Miro Ito : artist, author

With one of her images gracing the official poster of the 2006 Venice Biennale - Dance Section as well as the cover of the 2003 "Graphic Annuals” (Switzerland/U.S.A.), Ito's cross-over type work that defies the boundaries between genders, cultures, and genres is the outcome of her own spiritual quest through Germany, Japan and U.S.A.  

Currently, Miro Ito is involved in media & art projects with the artistic aspiration to build and promote new bridges between East and West; especially in more spiritual and creative arenas in the context of the "Media Art League (International Media & Art League)”, while preparing the launch of a project steering committee, especially as relates to the World Heritage as well as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity which she has been photographing in Japan for some time.

The first project is entitled "Japanese Bodyscapes", part of which was shown at the NY Public Library for Performing Arts under the title: "Men at Dance -from Noh to Butoh by Miro Ito : Japanese Performing Arts, Past and Present" in 2007/2008. This exhibition was a tie-in exhibition to the 2007 NY Butoh Festival and has been donated to the permanent collection of the NY Public Library.

Having so far participated in a wide variety of notable projects -- ranging from art, publications, documentary to digital art,  Ito's profile has appeared in renowned magazines including "PHOTOGRAPHIE", "FotoMAGAZINE, “ColorFoto”(Germany), “Foto”(Holland), "Asahi Camera", "Nippon Camera"(Japan), "Studio Design & Photography", "American Photo(Campus issue) ” in the USA. "Petersen's Photographic"(USA) magazine described her as "a painter of light" in January 2001 issue. “Eyes for Excellence”, a feature on her was included on the PIC ‘s (Photoimaging Information Council) official website from December 2002.

Ito is a member of the Photographic Society of Japan (a former steering committee member of the Month of Photography in Tokyo), the New York Art Directors Club as well as the Japan Society for Art and History of Photography (JSAHP).

Transcending Germany, Japan and U.S.A.

After majoring in Aesthetics and Fine Art History at Tokyo's renowned Keio University, Ito relocated to Germany where she studied Philosophy (Ruhr-University Bochum) as well as Photography and Applied Art (Essen University [previously the legendary Folkwang Schule]), while concurrently embarking on her path as a photo-artist as well as art pundit. 

From the late 1980s she held various solo-exhibitions both at leading galleries in major German cities as well as her native Japan: Linhof-Gallery (Munich), Grauwert Gallery (Hamburg), Zeit-Foto Salon (Tokyo). In 1989, she was invited to participate as a photo-artist in The Summer of Photography in Hamburg, commemorating the 150th anniversary of photography. She has also been working for international publications and on various collaboration projects with renowned artists worldwide.

Her solo exhibitions from the late 1990s to the early 2000s include: "Monochrome Digital Body Scapes" in 2003 and "Naked Equinox" in 1996 (both at Canon Salon), "Letters from New York: Message by a Heartist of Words and Photographs" in 2002 and "Elegant Encounter of Photography and Digital Technology" in 1998 (both at Japan Camera Industry Institute), "Butoh: Encounter with the Flower Named Body" ("'97Japanese Culture Weeks" in Frankfurt).   She also participated in several international exhibitions and photo fairs such as "Dedication of Flowers"(Tokyo National Musuem), the International Contemporary Art Fair in Yokohama (NICAF), "Angels" and "The Third Kind" (Melkweg Foundation, Amsterdam), etc.

Ito held three solo exhibitions of documentary work on a legendary kyogen master/total artist, Mannojo Nomura and published a tribute photo book of his work, ManzaiRaku (as both editor and photographer).

As an Author

She was an editor / author of "European Visions of Sensuality" (Tokyo, 1996) for which she has also produced a tie-in exhibition at the Melkweg Foundation (Amsterdam 1997). Her essays and critiques on subjects ranging from photography, architecture and design, as well as new media, to intercultural / aesthetic issues have so far appeared in numerous magazines. She was a member of "German Journalist Federation"(DJV, until 2002). Her regular monthly photographic art essay (incl. hands-on “how-to” technique advice) appears in Asahi Camera (4p.spread), the oldest camera journal of Japan.

Her recent books were Miseru Shashinjjutsu ("Enthralling Photography", Tokyo, 2007, which was selected for inclusion in the official reading list for public libraries in Japan, compiled by The Japan Library Association ) as well as “The Art of Photography in the Digital Era" (Tokyo, 2000).   Ito was invited in her capacity as an artist-pundit to present her thesis "Analogue Recollections in a Digital Cosmos " at the IAEA (International Association of Empiric Aesthetics) International Congress, Takarazuka University of Art and Design, Japan (August 2002).

Media-Art Projects after 9-11

Following the tragedy of "9-11", Ito committed herself to create her own messages from New York for Japan's news media, from which the exhibition: "Miro Ito's Letters from New York: Message by Heartist of Words and Photographs" (2002) was culled (the exhibition opened with such dignitaries as the former Japanese Prime Minister present as well as the Minister of Justice present).   With her healing images, she was invited to hold a lecture and slide-show for the PWP (Professional Women Photographers) in New York, October 2001.

Reminiscent of communications theorist Marshall McLuhan who postulated that "the medium is the message", Miro Ito aspires to create mixed-media projects (exhibitions, books, media art/film, etc.) to promote her quest, "East meets West" through "Media Art League", a creative forum linking media-specialists and cultural / intellectual personages in Japan, Europe and the Americas.

 

Representative Solo-Exhibitions as a Photographer

USA
--"Men at Dance - From Noh to Butoh :Japanese Performing Arts, Past and Present": a selection of "Japanese Bodyscapes" ( New York Public Library for Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, 2007-2008) as tie-in exhibition to the 2007 NY Butoh Festival.

Japan
--"Masks, Performance, Life's Energy: Visitor from Past and Future - featuring Mannojo Nomura for his first anniversary after his death" (Canon S Tower, Tokyo, 2005) .
-- "Mannojo Nomura's NipponGaku -Traditional Japanese Dance and Performance", Japan Camera Industry Institute, Tokyo, 2004 .
--"Monochrome Digital Bodyscapes", Canon Salon (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya,2003 ).
-- "Mannojo Nomura's Maskroad", Japan Camera Industry Institute, Tokyo, 2003.
-- "Miro Ito's Letters from New York: Message by Heartist of Words and Photographs" , Japan Camera Industry Institute, Tokyo,2002.
-"... in transition: Elegant Encounter of Photography and Digital Technology" , Japan Camera Industry Institute, Tokyo, 1998.
-- "Naked Equinox" (Retrospective photo exhibition), Canon Salon, in five major cities in Japan, 1996.
--"Woman to Woman" at Zeit-Foto Salon, Tokyo, 1988.

Germany
--"Butoh : Encounter with the Flower Named Body", Japanese Culture Week in Frankfurt,Germany, 1997.
--"Esoteric Incantation (B/W version)" at Grauwert Gallery, Hamburg (as part of The Summer of Photography program in the context of the 150th Anniversary of Photography), 1989.
-- "Esoteric Incantation (Compositions of color and light interacting with the female mystique)" exhibited by Bronica, Photokina '88 (World Photography Show), Cologne, 1988.
--"Japanese Body Language" at Linhof Gallery, Munich, 1987.
-- " ... a female dimension" at Grauwert Gallery, Hamburg, 1987.
--"Female Sequences" at Musisches Zentrum (Fine Arts Center), Ruhr- University, Bochum, Germany, 1986.

Representative International Group Exhibitions as a Photographer

--"Dedication of Flowers (Kenka)" exhibition by 15 Japanese - U.S. women photographers in commemoration of the Heisei Restoration of the Kondo of Toshodaiji Temple”, Tokyo National Museum, 2005.
--“The Third Kind”, Melkweg Foundation, Amsterdam, 1998.
-- “Angels”, Melkweg Foundation, Amsterdam, 1996.

Publications in the United States as a Photographer

- "Graphis Photo" (Cover/ Annual 2003)
- "Studio Photography & Design" (3 page feature in the July 2000 issue)
- "American Photo (On Campus)" (2 page spread, Nov. 2000 issue)
- "Petersen's Photographic" (4 page feature in the Jan. 2001 issue)

Representative Publications in Japan/Europe as a Photographer

Magazines
- "Asahi Camera / Jan. 2010" (7 pp., Japan)
- "Asahi Camera / Oct. 2008" (8 pp., Japan)
- "Nippon Camera / Dec. 2006" (4 pp., Japan)
- "Nippon Camera / Dec. 2004" (6 pp., Japan)
- "Cameraman / June 2004" (2 pp., Japan) ; "Cameraman/ April 2004"(4pp., Japan)
- "Commercial Photo - Digital Printing Technology / 2004" (3pp., Japan)
- "Nippon Camera / May 2003" (4 pp., Japan)
- "Commercial Photo / April 2003" (2pp., Japan)
- "Cameraman / July 2000" (2 pp., Japan)
- "Quest of Leica (Leica no Tankyu)", 1999 (9pp., Japan)
- "Digital Photo technique # 5", 1998 (4 pp., Japan)
- "Digital Photo technique # 2", 1996 (Cover photo & 12 page feature, Japan)
- "Foto/ Dec. 1996" (The Netherlands)
- "Photographie / June1996" (Cover photo & 4 page feature, Germany/Switzerland)
- "Colorfoto / July 1994" (4 pp., Germany)
- "Cameraman / May 1994" (7 page feature., Japan)
- "Commercial Photo / Nov.1992" (11page feature., Japan)
- "Asahi Camera / Nov.1989"(5 pp., Japan)
- "fotoMAGAZIN / June 1988" (4 pp., Germany)
- "Photographie / June1988" (2 pp., Germany/Switzerland)

Directories
- "Contemporary Photography in Japan 2000"(Japan)
- "Contemporary Photography in Japan 1998"(Japan)
- "100 Japanese Digital Image Creators /i-magazine, Dec. 1999" (Japan)
- "100 Japanese Digital Image Creators /i-magazine, March 1998" (Japan)

Books
-"Encounter with the Fundamentals of Life in Nara (Kokorono Sumika Nara - Inochino Kongen-narumono to no Deai )" (published as an author / photographer), 2010 (Japan)
-"Miseru Shashinjjutsu (Entralling Photography : Theme, Composition, Technique" (published as an author / photographer, selected for inclusion in the official reading list for public libraries, compiled by The Japan Library Association), 2007 (Japan)
-"Photographs and Haiku Poems dedicated to Ganjinwajo and Vairocana Buddha of Toshodaiji Temple"/Catalogue Edition for “Dedication of Flowers” exhibition,2005 (Japan)
-"ManzaiRaku : Mannojo Nomura + Miro Ito" (photographs/text by M.Ito), 2004 (Japan)
-"Computer & Design" (edited by JAGDA: Japanese Graphic Designers Association), 2002 (Japan)
-"The Art of Photography in the Digital Era: Views on Photography in the future" (with two other contributing authors), 2000 (Japan)
- Photobook : "European Visions of Sensuality" which was followed by an exhibition at Melkweg Foundation, in Amsterdam (published as an editor / author).
- "NYMPHS - Masterpieces of 8 Japanese Top Star Photographers", 1995 (Japan)
- "EROTICA - Masterpieces of 32 Japanese Nude Photographers", 1994 (Japan)
- "SENSUAL IMAGES - 100 of the World's Top Photographers Interpret Sensual Beauty", 1994 (Japan)
- "DUMONT'S LEXIKON DER FOTOGRAFIE", 1992 (Germany)
- "PHOTOGRAHIE IN HAMBURG/Int'l Catalog Edition" for "The Summer of Photography in Hamburg", 1989(Germany)

CD-ROMs
- "100 JAPANESE PHOTOGRAPHERS, Selection II", 1996 (Japan)
- "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PHOTOGRAPHERS VOL.1 - Nude/Private Works", 1994 (Japan)

Most recent lectures
-Academic session & presentaion of Ito's thesis "Analogue Recollections in a Digital Cosmos " at the IAEA (International Association of Empiric Aesthetics) International Congress, Takarazuka University of Art and Design, 2002 (Japan)
-"Lecture & Slide-show for American Women Photographers Association (PWP)”, Air Gallery, New York, 2001

Collections
New York Public Libray, Melkweg Foundation, Japan Camra Industry Institute, Zeit-Foto

Latest Update: September 7, 2010