Glanage by Naohiro Ninomiya

Signed copies

As a young boy in Japan, Naohiro Ninomiya used to gather small things during his many wanderings around his home. These small objects felt very valuable to him; he regarded them as his secret treasure.

Growing up, moving to France, and becoming a photographer transformed him into someone who works methodically when creating his artworks. Every detail is meticulously thought through, down to the tiniest aspects.

However, a few years ago, Ninomiya began taking pictures with a compact camera, abandoning the need for a strict concept or working method. He started gathering little scenes of daily life, everyday objects—whatever happened to catch his eye. Now, he collects images intuitively, much like he gathered things as a child, which he finds liberating. When he examines the contact sheets of these images through a magnifying glass, he searches for little shining gems. Using the old printing technique of ‘orotone’ and working with small sizes, he carefully refines these found gems into visual dainty diamonds.

Capturing these simple, humble scenes feels like a treasure hunt to him. He enjoys picking up things that often go unnoticed and transforming them into ethereal relics of a frozen present. These moments, though fleeting and delicate, are beautiful. To Ninomiya, life ultimately consists of an accumulation of such moments.

He sees this approach as akin to gleaning. Since France is his adoptive home, he has titled this series with the French word “Glanage,” a reference to Jean-François Millet’s painting ‘Des glaneuses’ from 1857. It felt natural and perfectly fitting, while also serving as a tribute to his family of traditional farmers in Japan.

Ninomiya’s intention is to continue this series until his final days. As the collection of gleaned images grows and is displayed on the wall, it will increasingly resemble the Milky Way from a distance—a Milky Way that expands. A golden Milky Way, which could be seen as a vital thread running throughout his life.