Pro Talk Books – Michael Kenna – Same Sun, Same Moon
THE EXQUISITE PHOTOGRAPHY of Michael Kenna has earned him a much-deserved reputation as a master of quiet and reflective fine art imagery, and the arrival of a fresh book of his pictures is always a cause for celebration. His latest publication, Same Sun, Same Moon, is, however, something a little different, since it’s a collaboration, with more than 60 of his glorious photographs accompanied not just by Michael’s reflections on how they came about, but by the thoughts of revered writer Pico Iyer.
Pico, it transpired, had much in common with the photographic artist, with both having been born in England just three years apart, both having studied near Oxford in the 1970s before moving to the US West Coast, and with a shared love of Japan, interest in Buddhism and experience of wide-ranging travel. The premise for the new book was simple: Michael would share his images and recollections of how they came about, while Pico would contribute his thoughts and the stories that they brought to mind. It’s a sensitive and thoughtful collaboration, and neither side saw what the other had put down in words before it was eventually all brought together.
“Recently it was written by one of my professional associates, ‘Obviously, Kenna is English so he cannot have a clear opinion,”’ Michael says. “Whereas that is probably true, as my opinions and ideas shift with the wind, I do believe, at least for now, that images are catalysts for storytelling, starting points for our ideas and imaginations to fly.
“This theory provided the initial seed for this collaborative book. I began to send images to my dear friend Pico, not so that he could write about them, although of course he is a trained professional and would be more than capable of doing a brilliant job. No, I wanted him to let his creative stream of consciousness lead him to whatever destination it might. I was not intending the picture to tell the story; it was most definitely going to be Pico Iyer.
“Later, Pico ever so kindly suggested that I also scribble down my thoughts and feelings on each image. The eventual juxtapositions of our texts, written independently, unseen and unread by either of us, might make for an interesting dialogue. It was an experiment, a leap of faith, far more from Pico’s side than mine. Well, as it is also said, the proof is in the pudding.”
The final result is both thought provoking and beautiful, a work to cherish both from a visual perspective and from the point of view of having one’s mind gently stretched. Here is a selection of Michael’s work plus his stories of how each came together, and the full book features many more examples to both savour and enjoy, along with Pico’s astute commentary.
