Il confine tra mondo interiore e realtà nella fotografia di Gak Yamada in mostra in Friuli
Japanese artist Gak Yamada's exhibition 'Cosmic Prayer' is on view until June 14 at Die Gelbe Wand, a new exhibition space in Pordenone, Italy, which will be the Italian Capital of Culture in 2027. The show traces Yamada's shift from photography as representation to an experiential medium, featuring series such as 'HIGAN' (where urban landscapes dissolve), 'Red' (where chemical decomposition reveals dominant red tones), and the latest 'Flower of the Universe,' inspired by cosmic connectivity. Yamada, who once abandoned photography entirely to paint, immerses prints in water to alter their chemical stability, with Fujifilm papers dissolving quickly and Kodak papers slowly, producing varied chromatic and material effects.
The exhibition matters because it presents a rare, deeply conceptual approach to photography that merges Eastern spirituality, impermanence, and material experimentation. Yamada's work challenges the documentary function of the medium, positioning it as a tool for introspection and cosmic connection. The show also highlights Pordenone's cultural ambitions ahead of its 2027 designation, bringing international contemporary art to a regional Italian context.