Ikuo Nakamura Photo Exhibition
"Great Underwater Faces Expo"

About the exhibition

The ocean is so close to us, and yet so far away. So much so that some even describe it as the "blue cosmos." Fascinated by the sea, Ikuo Nakamura, a leading underwater photographer, has been photographing the sea and its creatures for more than half a century since he taught himself underwater photography at the age of 19.
Stretching from shorelines just centimeters deep to vast open waters, the ocean in all its majesty and diversity reveals a unique paradise (society) inhabited by a rich variety of creatures sporting their vivid colors and exquisite designs. This exhibition, "Great Underwater Faces Expo," is a collection of photographs that capture this paradise and moments when creatures show us their rich and smile-inducing expressions and gestures with Nakamura's humorous comments accompanying each individual photo. Featuring photographs he has been taking in the 30-plus years following his highly acclaimed "Underwater Faces Expo" exhibition and photo book of 1987, his latest exhibition is as much a new work as it is a sequel.

"In addition to the faces of fishes, I also shoot underwater sceneries and drift ice formations, as well as corals, starfish, seaweed, and other ocean creatures that often escape our sight or we can easily overlook. When you spend a long time diving in the sea, the faces and shapes of fish and other creatures often inspire you with unexpected images. So when I come across these opportunities, I try not to disturb the impression I receive from the subject when I shoot," explains Nakamura.
Please enjoy the beauty of the overwhelming paradise that is the ocean at this "Great Expo" of ocean residents that are sure to bring a smile to your face.