Yuriko Takagi photography: chaoscosmos vol.3 - visible viscosity - GYRE GALLARY
Yuriko Takagi photography: chaoscosmos vol.3 - visible viscosity - GYRE GALLARY
visible viscosity
The flow of air and water is ordinarily invisible. But I've been fascinated by things involving viscosity ever since a photo shoot that made the mysterious relationship between gravity and viscosity visible. At the time, I knew absolutely nothing about viscosity from the perspective of fluid dynamics, but what was revealed through the combination of shutter speed and depth of field was a phenomenon of infinite beauty and mystery.
Most beautiful shapes in nature come from the balance of gravity, inertia, and viscosity.
Later, I came to understand the field of fluid dynamics is full of interesting ideas like this, and I began to look forward to seeing what I could make visible through further sessions turning my camera on these three phenomena. It was delightful to discover that the act of photography can make a considerable contribution to the process of shedding light on the invisible order of nature.
Most beautiful shapes in nature come from the balance of gravity, inertia, and viscosity.
Later, I came to understand the field of fluid dynamics is full of interesting ideas like this, and I began to look forward to seeing what I could make visible through further sessions turning my camera on these three phenomena. It was delightful to discover that the act of photography can make a considerable contribution to the process of shedding light on the invisible order of nature.
Yuriko Takagi, Photographer
chaoscosmos
I have long vaguely imagined that due to some action, the cosmos (order = universe) was born out of chaos. In other words, in my mind, chaos and order possessed a causal relationship. But then, as I began to look at natural phenomena through the lens I began to realize that perhaps chaos and cosmos coexist simultaneously. Much more than what we generally accept on a daily basis the providence of the universe is surprisingly far more complex and detailed. I think that the characteristics (phenomena) of each substance as well as life may be a methodology for survival in this universe. From time to time these phenomena appear visually through the lens. MMM* are hidden in natural phenomena that cannot be seen or noticed by the naked eye. At some point, I began to receive them as small messages through the mechanism of the camera.
I call these messages "chaoscosmos."
Following on from sakura,
visible viscosity is the third volume of chaoscosmos.
Following on from sakura,
visible viscosity is the third volume of chaoscosmos.
- Yuriko Takagi
-
Born in Tokyo, Takagi studied graphic design at Musashino Art University in Tokyo and fashion design at Trent Polytechnic in England. Since then, as a photographer she has continued to explore human existence through fashion and the body from her unique perspective. In recent years, she has been deeply interested in the mysteries of natural phenomena, launching the chaoscosmos project and grappling with new forms of expression including video. Based in Japan, she has also worked in other parts of Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.Photo credit: © Shinnosuke Miyachi SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2022 chaoscosmos vol. 1 - icing process - (GYRE GALLERY)
2023 Christian Dior : Designer of Dreams, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
*Photographed haute couture fashion for Japanese exhibition catalog and exhibition layout.
2023 PARALLEL WORLD (Nijo-jo Castle, Ninomaru-goten Palace, Daidokoro Kitchen and Okiyodokoro Kitchen / KYOTOGRAPHIE main program)
2024 chaoscosmos vol. 2 - sakura - (GYRE GALLERY)
2026 Threads of Beauty 1995-2025: Wrapped in Time, Wrapped in Wind (Bunkamura The Museum)
COLLECTIONS
National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; Hara Museum of Contemporary Art; Kobe Fashion Museum; Meguro Museum of Art; Shanghai Art Museum
PUBLICATIONS
Nus Intimes (Yobisha, 1994), In and Out of Mode (Gap Japan, 1994), Confused Gravitation (Bijutsu Shuppan-sha, 1994), skin (Fusosha Publishing, 1998), Sei (Atelier EXB, 2014), Dior by Yuriko Takagi (Rizzoli, 2025), Threads of Beauty 1995-2025 (Seigensha Art Publishing, 2026)
Yuriko Takagi photography exhibition:
chaoscosmos vol.3 - visible viscosity -
- Dates
- October 8 - November 29, 2026
- Venue
- GYRE GALLERY |
GYRE 3F, 5-10-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Contact
- Navi Dial 0570-05-6990 (11:00 - 18:00)
- Organizer
- GYRE
- Curation/planning
- papalagi studio
- Venue design/
project management - Shiho Minami, Kanta Minami
(multi-dimensional team GullineL)
- Graphic design
- Rikako Nagashima, Miku Suzuki (village®)
- Construction
- Takayuki Ozeki, Kaori Imai, Misato Saito
(IBUKI KOGEISHA)
- Lighting
- Yasuo Inoue, Nao Okai (MGS Lighting)
- Lithograph
- UMEDA LITHOGRAPH STUDIO
- Framing
- FLATFILE
- Ironwork
- Takahiro Kazama (Green Life Lab.)
- Urushi
(Lacquer) Craft - Tomokichi Miyashita
- Production
coordinator - Amanda Ling-Ning Lo (intermediArt)
- Photography assistant
- Shinnosuke Miyachi
- Translation
- Azby Brown
- Support
- MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.,
FLATLABO inc.
- PR direction
- HiRAO INC
- Press contact
-
HiRAO INC |
#608 1-11-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03.5771.8808 | Fax. 03.5410.8858
Contacts: Seiichiro Mifune/Shohei Suzuki.
Talk Event
chaoscosmos vol.3 -visible viscosity-
For the exhibition’s first event, biologist Shin-ichi Fukuoka joins photographer Yuriko Takagi to talk about visible viscosity from their respective perspectives, including discussion of art, science, and the world in between. This promises to be a fascinating conversation between two people who have viewed the world from different fields. Seats are limited. Advance registration is required.
For the exhibition’s first event, biologist Shin-ichi Fukuoka joins photographer Yuriko Takagi to talk about visible viscosity from their respective perspectives, including discussion of art, science, and the world in between. This promises to be a fascinating conversation between two people who have viewed the world from different fields. Seats are limited. Advance registration is required.
- Date
- Monday, October 19, 2026
- Time
- 19:00, for about 90 minutes
(Reception opens at 18:00.)
- Venue
- GYRE.FOOD
- Entry fee
- 1,500 yen (Only cash payment will be accepted on the day of the event)
Due to high demand, the event has reached full capacity and
registration is now closed.
registration is now closed.
Gallery Tour
chaoscosmos vol.3 -visible viscosity-
The second event for this exhibition is a gallery tour by Yuriko Takagi. Walk through the exhibition gallery while hearing about how the works were created and exhibited. This is a great chance to enjoy an exclusive tour of the exhibition. Advance registration is required. Once capacity has been reached, no further registrations will be accepted.
The second event for this exhibition is a gallery tour by Yuriko Takagi. Walk through the exhibition gallery while hearing about how the works were created and exhibited. This is a great chance to enjoy an exclusive tour of the exhibition. Advance registration is required. Once capacity has been reached, no further registrations will be accepted.
- Date
- Saturday, November 14, 2026
- Time
- 11:30, for about 30 minutes
(Reception opens at 11:00.)
The tour will be followed by an open question and
answer session at the venue lasting about 30 minutes.
- Venue
- GYRE GALLERY |
GYRE 3F, 5-10-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Entry fee
- Free
Reservation Form (in preparation)