Keiichiro Muramatsu

What inspires you?

When I go looking for subjects in the fields and mountains, I sometimes come across a place that is exceptionally tranquil and beautifully lit. In such places I feel as if the flowers and trees are whispering to me. This desire to communicate this kind of dialogue with nature through my work is the driving force behind my artwork.

Describe your creative process.

I have been studying a form of ikebana called "nageire" since 2014. I express the passage of time and the expansion of space by arranging flowers based on the concept of yin and yang. I photograph arrangements in my studio with natural light. I also do photomontages on my computer. Sometimes I shoot on the dunes. Prints are mainly made on a plaster-based paper called Fresco Giclee manufactured by Tokuyama Corporation. The paper is then coated with a plaster-based solution and printed with water-based pigment ink. The plaster envelops the pigment ink and provides excellent preservation properties.

What are 3 words that best describe your work?

Minimalist art, quietness, unique

Who are some artists that have influenced your work?

Toshiro Kawase, Irving Penn, Paul Caponigro, Eliot Porter, Sarah Moon

What is the most important tool when creating your work?

Sigma digital camera, Fresco Giclee made by Tokuyama Corporation

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

Photography isn't about taking pictures, it's about being photographed.

Where do you go for inspiration?

Walking in nature.