Purple Art

[February 20 2014]

Hiroshi Sugimoto “Past Tense” exhibition at The Getty Center, Los Angeles

The Japanese-born, New York-based artist Hiroshi Sugimoto is known for his deep commitment to the conceptual and aesthetic as well as a concern for and engagement with the past. Moving from the usual topic of the wax-figure portraits and habitat-diorama landscapes that he’s celebrated for, at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Sugimoto recently discussed lesser-known topics including his architectural endeavors, experimental electric-energy photographs and hopes of a touring Japanese theater. Several times referring to his ongoing frustration with authority and bureaucracy, his advice to the audience for the night: “To gain the freedom, you’ve got to claim everything as an artist.” A series of Sugimoto’s classic photographic work, Past Tense, is on view until June 8th at The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. Text and Photo Paige Silveria

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