Shinichi Maruyama Japanese, b. 1968

Japanese photographer Shinichi Maruyama uses innovative techniques to create stunning photographs of transient, natural forms. Maruyama often references the Japanese aesthetic tradition of wabi-sabi in his work. Wabi-sabi, the practice of finding beauty in impermanence and imperfection, and Zen Buddhism inspire his process of capturing the ephemeral and paying homage to the passage of time. Spending years mastering precise lighting, camera work, and the observation of physical properties of moving forms of ink, water, and human bodies, Maruyama’s work appears flowing, organic, and utterly spontaneous.

His numerous series of work freeze multiple moments as well as variable, unique interactions into singular shots. Momentary collisions between water and ink mid-air in KUSHO evoke the artistry of calligraphy, snapshots of falling water forms captured through continuous repetition on his part in Water Sculpture craft an abstract visual language, and months spent choreographing dancers and studying light refraction in waterfalls birthed Maruyama’s respective series Nude and Light Sculpture, highlighting his scientific devotion to photography.

Meditative illustrations of various forms of movement are the crux of Maruyama’s body of work, wherein viewers are invited into introspective environments reminiscent of Zen gardens.

Maruyama was born in 1968 in Nagano, Japan. During his high school years he became fascinated by Chinese calligraphy and photography. He studied at Chiba University, graduating in 1991, and worked as a member of Hakuhodo Photo Creative. In 2003 Maruyama moved to New York City, and now lives and works in New Zealand.

Since the late 2000s, Maruyama’s work has been the subject of exhibition at prominent venues internationally including the Boghossian Foundation, Brussels, Belgium; Carnegie Hall, New York, NY; The Crow Collection, Dallas, TX; Harnett Museum of Art, Richmond, VA; and the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. His work is included in numerous public and private collections worldwide.