Kikoh Matsuura











Although all life comes to an end, the end is at the same time a beginning of the transition into something new.
Small plants that exist by our side and we hardly take notice of also contain within themselves the majestic nature, and revolve their life force just the same.

This piece uses a Scanning Electron Microscope to capture the image of withered plants only a few millimeters long. The Scanning Electron Microscope can visualize structures down to a few nanometers, achieving a level of clarity fundamentally beyond the reach of conventional visible light optics. By capturing the delicate structures of the plant in high resolution, the piece unveils a hidden vibrancy at the brink of death, invisible to the naked eye. This method reveals the beauty within the cycle of life and death, showcasing how death intertwines with vitality in these withered plants.


生物はいつか命を終えるが、それは終わりではなく新たなものへと移り変わる始まりでもある。
側にありながら気に留めることのない小さな植物にも壮大な自然が存在し、同じように命を巡らせている。

この作品では、走査電子顕微鏡を用い数ミリメートルの枯れた植物を撮影している。走査電子顕微鏡は、数ナノメートルの高い分解能で光(可視光)では原理的に見ることのできないミクロなスケールを可視化できる。枯れた植物の微細な構造を高解像度で撮らえることで、肉眼では見えない生命活動の終焉にある躍動を描写し、枯れた植物に混在する死と生、命の循環にある美を表現している。


AWARD :
■ London International Creative Competition 2021
[ Finalists - SHOOT (Photo/Video) category / Professional division ]
■ Tokyo International Foto Awards 2021
[ 銀賞・Silver prize - Nature category / Professional division ]
■ International Photography Awards 2022 (IPA)
[ Honorable mention・Official Selection - Nature category / Professional division ]
■ 16th Annual Black & White Spider Awards
[ Nominee - Still Life category / Professional division ]
■ 8th Fine Art Photography Awards
[ NOMINEE prize - Nature category / Professional division ]
■ Annual Photography Awards 2021
[ Honorable mention - Fine Art category ]
■ Refocus Awards 2022
[ Honorable mention - Still Life category / Professional division]
■ Refocus Awards 2022
[ Nominee - Nature category / Professional division]