“Our ancestors once referred to phenomena which surpassed human principles as ʼNatureʼ. However, due to technological development the demarcation line between humanity has been pushed and further expanded, and as a result ʼ Natureʼ now receives a conceptual encroachment from humanity. If humanity were to continue magnifying itself beyond the domains of "phenomena that exceed human principles", and shroud it, at that point what we once referred to as ʻNatureʼ will cease to exist.  
 
Our ancestors once referred to an existence which exceeded beyond ʻNatureʼ as ʻtranscendenceʼ, however, if ʻNatureʼ as a subordinate concept were to cease existence, then ʻtranscendenceʼ will also disappear. ʻNatureʼ will cease to exist and ʻtranscendenceʼ will cease to exist, and once all of what had exceeded us disappears in its entirety, what will the view of the world be reflected in the eyes of humanity which now stands alone stranded and motionless?  It is certain that we as inhabitants of the ʻmetropolisʼ are already aware of that answer.”
 
-Naoya Hatakeyama
 
Naoya Hatakeyama was born in 1958 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. His photographic works examine, in a serial manner, the city; itʼs past, present and future. Experimenting formally, Hatakeyama utilizes the vocabulary of photography to reflect, more generally, upon the relationship between humans and their environment.
 
Exhibition presented by Taka Ishii Gallery (Tokyo) with the support by Mizuma & One Gallery, in collaboration with Caochangdi PhotoSpring.
 
Naoya Hatakeyama had multiple solo shows at "Les Rencontres dʼArles" including "Archeology of the City" and "Atmos" in 2003 and  "Scales" in 2009.