What is the theater photography project of Hiroshi Sugimoto?

Hiroshi Sugimoto – Trillon, New York, 1976

Hiroshi Sugimoto was born in Tokyo in 1948, but later moved to Los Angeles to study photography at the Art Center Design Institute . He settled in New York and soon began his research on concept photography. Over the years, Hiroshi Sugimoto has become one of the most acclaimed artists and photographers of his generation. What factors affect Sugimoto?
In the 1970s, Sugimoto was involved in the minimalist and conceptual art scenes in New York. During this time, he would use the camera to interact with various concepts around him, and this involvement influenced his style. This also allows him to further explore photography beyond its obvious documentary uses.
Sumi Moon's style
Sumi Moon's most famous work is inspired by repeated creation through its precisely balanced images, and his works have photographic illusions in most professions. Today, he is known for his photography, including black and white photos of classic cinemas built in the 1920s and 1930s, and the ruins of abandoned cinemas in various states in the United States.
" Theater Photos "
Theater relies on repeated shooting, which is characterized by the use of black and white film, simulation process and long exposure. The lights, gleaming white scenes look like a portal from another dimension, and the objects in the image are some of the elements that make the popular series present a surreal look. In the series, Sugimoto shot more than 100 cinemas and autonomous theaters over a period of 40 years. Over the past few years, he has expanded existing projects by taking photos for Italian opera houses and abandoned theatres.
Video: Hiroshi Sugimoto talks about his Theatre, 2016

9 minutes 39 seconds
How he started this project
Hiroshi Sugimoto created the Theatre series in 1978 by shooting old American cinemas and self-driving cars. He was only 28 years old at that time and was engaged in project exposure work for a period of time. Using his large format camera and projectors that show movies as light sources, Hiroshi Sugimoto captures the entire movie in a single still image. The result of each full-length film is a glowing white box that softly displays architectural details in all the spaces he photographs.
In his own words his actions
My dream is to take 170,000 photos in one mouthful of film. The image in my mind is a glittering white screen in a dark cinema. The light generated by over 170,000 exposures will be the embodiment or expression of something awesome and sacred.
– Excerpted from Hiroshi Sugimoto: Theater
Analysis
Sugimoto’s works aim to create a suspended state by changing the way time is represented and individual perceptions. His photography is designed to inspire the audience to focus on individual elements to encourage the audience to see the world from different perspectives.
Sugimoto believes that cameras have the ability to make elements invisible to the naked eye (such as time and space effects) more clearly visible. In this way, the series raises important questions about the connection between time and photography and the mysterious nature of human reality.
Photos
1970s

Sugimoto Hiroshi – UA Rivoli, New York, 1977

Sugimoto Hiroshi – UA Theater, Great Neck, New York, 1978 Please enter the picture description Sugimoto Hiroshi – UA Walker Theater, New York, 1978

Sugimoto Hiroshi – 1978, New York Radio City Concert Hall

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Cabert Street Cinema – Massachusetts, 1978

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Theater – Tampa, Florida, 1979
1980s

Sugimoto Hiroshi – 1980, Marion Palace, Ohio

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Akron City Theater, Ohio, 1980

Sugimoto Hiroshi – 1980, Canton Palace, Ohio

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Goshen, Indiana, 1980

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Ohio, Ohio Theater, 1980

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Palm City, Michigan, 1980
1990s

Sugimoto Hiroshi – New Zealand Citizen Theatre, 1991

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Regent, San Francisco, 1992

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Olinda Theatre, Olinda, 1992

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Paramount Pictures, Auckland, 1992


Sugimoto Hiroshi – Panoramic Dome, 1993

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Encinitas, Laparoma, 1993

Suzumoto Hiroshi – Hollywood, El Capitan, 1993

Suzumoto Hiroshi – Avalon Theater, Catalina Island, 1993

Suzumoto Hiroshi – Lalinger Theater, Balab, 1995

Suzumoto Hiroshi – Procter & Gamble Theater, New York, 1996

Suzumoto Hiroshi – National Grand Theater, Sydney, 1997

Suzumoto Hiroshi – Panoramic view of Paris Chino in 1998
2010s

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Palace of Tokyo, Paris, 2014

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Wolf House Roof, New York, 2015
2010s – Abandoned Theater

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Franklin Park Theater, Rashomon, 1950, Boston, 2015

Suzumoto Hiroshi – Detroit Michigan Theater, 2015

Suzumoto Hiroshi – Paramount Theater, Newark, 2015
2010s – Opera House
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Sugimoto Hiroshi – Cariniano Theater, Turin, 2016, seat side

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Ferrara Theater, Ferrara Summer Time, 2015

Sugimoto Hiroshi – Siena Theater, Stenani Termini, 2014

Sumori Sugimoto – Science Museum of Vienna, Vitoroni, Mantova, 2015, Viteroni, Screen side

Sumori – Carino Theater, Turin, 2016, Screen side

Sumori – – Villa Mazakorati White Night, Bologna, 2015
Unless otherwise stated, all pictures of Hiroshi Sugimoto.