Hanayo

Hanayo 1989-2020 summarizes thirty years of the activities of Japanese photographer, artist, musician, and model Hanayo Nakajima. In 1989, at the age of 19, she became a Hangyoku (younger geisha), and began to take pictures using her father's old camera. Her vivid and fresh images became a forerunner of »girly photography« in Japan. Later she was featured on the cover of The Face magazine and modeled for Gaultier. She moved to Berlin in 1999 where she worked with the film director Christoph Schlingensief. Hanayo has collaborated with international musicians, her single Joe le taxi has been featured on many music compilations. Hanayo has published several books including Hanayome, MAGMA, and berlin, and has exhibited worldwide including at Palais de Tokyo (Paris), Taka Ishii Gallery (Tokyo), Mori Museum (Tokyo), Documenta X (Kassel). She is based in Tokyo and Berlin.