'Thematically, Hatakeyama has always studied the intersection of nature and urbanisation – notions of construction, change, destruction and rebirth.'
—Yasufumi Nakamori, Senior Curator, International Art (Photography), Tate ModernOn his introduction to photography, Japanese artist Naoya Hatakeyama stated, ‘In my case, an entrance to the medium was painting. From the beginning I felt close to the style where a single piece of work was hung on the wall.’ This notion is epitomised in the present diptych: a monumental work measuring over 3.5 metres in width when displayed side by side. For over three decades, the artist has photographed the life of cities, examining the extreme rate, scale and impact of human industry. Untitled/Osaka comprises before-and-after views of a repurposed baseball stadium – the playing area transformed into a model-home exhibition resembling a mini residential neighbourhood – and its subsequent demolition. Based in Tokyo, Hatakeyama co-represented Japan in the 49th Venice Biennale in 2001 and has received numerous awards, most recently the 2015 Medal of Honour with Purple Ribbon, one of Japan’s highest honours for artistic achievement.