The European Cultural Centre (ECC), a cultural organization founded by artist René Rietmeyer, has opened a new intimate cultural space in Montmartre, Paris's legendary district known for its rich artistic heritage and creative spirit. The inaugural exhibition at this venue features works from renowned Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki's captivating series "Monstrous Paradise," curated from the ECC Art Collection by co-directors Elisabeth Mironenko and Nina Comini.
The ambitious "Monstrous Paradise" project has deep roots dating back to 1999, when Dutch artist René Rietmeyer first encountered Araki at the opening of his exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo. However, establishing contact with the elusive photographer proved to be a challenging endeavor that would span more than a decade. Rietmeyer's initial attempt to reach Araki came in November 2012, but despite making a second attempt with the assistance of a Japanese translator, the project could not be clearly communicated to the celebrated artist.
Persistence eventually paid off when Rietmeyer sent a second letter to Araki. The breakthrough came through Natsuko Odate, Araki's manager, who delivered the encouraging news: "I spoke with Araki and he is very happy to participate in your project." This positive response marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration that would take several more years to fully materialize.
In January 2018, excellent news arrived as Araki had finally completed preparations for the publication. By April 2018, the European Cultural Centre received a remarkable collection of 200 images from the "Monstrous Paradise" series, representing a significant body of work by Nobuyoshi Araki. Each photograph in the series showcases Araki's distinctive artistic vision, featuring carefully arranged settings that reveal his fantasies and demonstrate his particular approach to visual storytelling that has become synonymous with his artistic identity.
The exhibition is currently available for viewing by appointment only until October 21st at the ECC's new Montmartre location at 4, rue Piemontesi, 75018, Paris. Visitors interested in experiencing Araki's provocative and meticulously crafted imagery can find additional information at ecc-collection.eu and ecc-france.eu.
