Yoshinori Mizutani, born in 1987 in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, is a Tokyo-based photographer captivated by the unexpected surge of lime green parakeets in the city. Mizutani’s fascination with these uncommon birds has transformed into an artistic obsession. He uses his camera to capture the fascinating interplay between these vibrant creatures and the urban environment, creating images that highlight the city’s changing landscape and the surreal feelings these parakeets evoke.
Mizutani’s work has garnered widespread recognition, earning him a spot in the 2014 “FOAM” Talent Call. His photographs have been showcased in exhibitions around the world, highlighting his captivating perspective on urban wildlife. Let’s take a glimpse at some of his notable exhibitions:
Exhibiting the Extraordinary: A Journey Through Mizutani’s Career
Mizutani’s work has graced numerous prestigious venues, including the 2023 Prix Pictet Fire & Water Exhibition at the TOP museum in Tokyo. In 2022, his captivating “Des oiseaux” series found a home at the Hangar Photo Art Center in Brussels, Belgium, and the Photoville festival in Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York. He continued his international journey with exhibitions in Toulouse, Canada’s Capture photography Festival, and the T3 PHOTO FESTIVAL TOKYO in 2021.
In 2020, his work was featured at PEP (Paris Expériences Photos) in Paris, and in 2019, he showcased his talent at the Asama International Photo Festival in Japan, The Photaumnales festival in France, and the NEKO project at the IBASHO gallery in Antwerp. Mizutani’s artistic pursuits continued in 2018, with exhibitions at the Japan Museum SieboldHuis in the Netherlands, the Seoul Photo Festival, the Provoke 2.0 festival in Poland, and the Photo Phnom Penh Festival in Cambodia. He also graced the stages of the Asama International Photo Festival, the GETXOPHOTO Festival in Basque, the CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY (CCP) in Australia, and the D museum in Seoul.
2017 saw Mizutani’s talent shine at the Stadthaus Ulm in Germany, the FESTIVAL FOTOGRAFICO EUROPEO in Milano, and the IMA gallery in Tokyo. In 2016, he participated in numerous exhibitions, including the Tennoz Canal Autumn Festival in Tokyo, the More Than A Gallery in Paris, the Seoul Lunar Photo Festival, the Fake Romanticism exhibition in Beijing, the ASYAAF & Hidden Artists Festival in Seoul, and the TRES + TRES FOTOGRAFIA at the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo. His work also made an appearance at the IMA CONCEPT STORE in Tokyo, the Festival Photo La Gacilly in France, the TAFA (Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Gallery) in China, and the Near Future Art / DOORS exhibition in Tokyo.
Mizutani’s artistic journey continued into 2015, with notable exhibitions at the Biel/Bienne Festival of Photography in Switzerland, the IMA CONCEPT STORE in Tokyo, the ibasho gallery in Antwerp, the Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery, the Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts (KMoPA), the DOOMED GALLERY2 in London, and the IMA CONCEPT STORE in Tokyo. He also participated in the LUMIX MEETS BY JAPANESE PHOTOGRAPHERS #2 exhibitions in Paris and Tokyo in 2014.
Mizutani’s impressive career journey began with his involvement in the Foam Magazine Talent 2014 exhibition, showcasing his talent in Dubai, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Paris. His work has also been featured in the Christophe Guye Galerie in Zurich, the Recto Verso Gallery in Tokyo, the 1 Rue Richelieu and Hillside Forum in Tokyo, the Count Down Gallery Momozonogaro in Tokyo, and the Gallery Mestalla in Tokyo.
A Legacy of Urban Wildlife Photography
Yoshinori Mizutani’s photographs are not just captivating; they are a testament to his profound connection with the natural world. His lens captures the subtle beauty of these urban invaders, highlighting the unexpected ways nature coexists with human-made environments. He invites viewers to consider the transformative power of nature within our urban landscapes, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance between the natural and the man-made.
