Nao TSUDA

Nao Tsuda, a Japanese photographer exhibiting internationally since 2001, began his career with Hiroshi Sugimoto, a major figure in Japanese modern art. His unique vision of nature and his authentic approach to an eternal subject, the relationship between photography and time, are his signature. Tsuda captures lakes, mountainous terrains, mists, winds, and lunar paths from unique angles, pushing the boundaries of photographic expression.

Lake Biwa, Japan's inland sea, tells a story of transformation. Once animated by the constant coming and going of traditional boats, the lake offered a spectacle worthy of ukiyo-e prints. According to the archives, no fewer than 1,348 boats sailed its waters in 1689, creating a scene of daily life during the Edo period. Today, the landscape has changed. The boats of yesteryear have disappeared, giving way to contemplative calm. Like extinct species, these boats have become legend, now existing in tales and collective memory. Facing this lake steeped in history, Nao Tsuda created several moonlit shots, which will be exhibited at the photo edition of Private Choice in November 2024.

In 2010, Tsuda received the Minister of Education Award for New Artist in Fine Arts. Since 2017, he has held the position of visiting professor at the Osaka University of Arts.