1. Tokihiro Sato
(1957-Present Day)

2. Background Information
Born in Yamagata Prefecture
Originally trained as a sculptor
Harnesses light to draw lines or make dots in his photos using mirrors in the day and small flashlights at night, capturing his presence but not his image
Photos are held in many public and private museums in Japan

3. Respiration Collection “Breathing Shadows”
1996
“The presentation elegantly lends itself to the body of the work, and quite honestly I have never before seen photographs like this.” – Art Institute of Chicago

4. Respiration Collection “Breathing Shadows”
1988
“You are looking at landscapes either dotted with white lights or brushed with long or short strokes of white light.” – Art Institute of Chicago

5. Respiration Collection “Breathing Shadows”
1992
“The exposure is so long that you can rarely make out figures moving through the scene.” – Art Institute of Chicago

6. Respiration Collection “Breathing Shadows”
1989
“You imagine the ghosts walking through the frame - you know someone or something was there - but logic is telling you there are no ghosts. There are.” – Art Institute of Chicago

7. Respiration Collection “Breathing Shadows”
1989
“And one of them is Sato, moving throughout the frame to make these light imprints onto his film. You don’t see him, but you can imagine him stopping to make his mark, each and every dot, each and every stroke.” – Art Institute of Chicago

8. Respiration Collection “Breathing Shadows”
1992
Sato’s photographs are spiritual and reassuring, in the way where you are reassured when you know there are things in this world you may not understand but don’t necessarily want to. You want the mystery, you want the beauty. You realize you may not need to know all the answers. Sometimes it’s just as well to let the ghosts pass by unnoticed. That’s the message I get from these photos.

9. Favorite Photo