Rinko Kawauchi ・川内倫子

I have followed Rinko Kawauchi’s work since 2010 when I first came across it online. It is the simplicity of both the image composition and the subject matter that draws me to the work. There is a casual and relaxed feel to the images, but they also evoke a sense of nostalgia within the viewer. 

I particularly like the use of the square format. Maybe this relates to my idea of isolation as I feel that squares contain the eye more, and there is not so much room for the gaze to move around (similar to how physical isolation makes you feel contained.)

The colour palette in these images is also simple and cohesive, and I would like to incorporate a similar feel in my own work. I don’t want my folio to become too heavy in mood, as I feel that the topic I am exploring naturally leads itself this this spiral of sadness. I feel that Kawauchi’s work has a good balance of calm and lightness, but also a kind of solemn undertone. Yet, I feel that this could change depending on the mood of the viewer at the time of looking at the work.

Kawauchi, R 2005, Cui Cui , photographic series, viewed 29 March 2020 <http://rinkokawauchi.com/works/213/>

Kawauchi, R 2007, Semear , photographic series, viewed 29 March 2020, <http://rinkokawauchi.com/works/156/>