Rinko Kawauchi

Photos: From the series ME, 2019 © Rinko Kawauchi, Courtesy of Christophe Guye Galerie

In a world of change and chaos, where the pace of life often feels relentless, there is a quiet revolution in the art of simply being present. It’s in the often-overlooked everyday moments that we find a serene kind of power. This presence becomes an act of defiance, grounding us in a time when the world seems to be moving too fast.

When Rinko Kawauchi visited Iceland in the summer of 2019, she felt this desire to slow down and reflect. Surrounded by humbling geysers and glaciers, her wish was fulfilled: “As I gazed at this sight, I had the sense of being a fetus enveloped by the earth, and I felt a connection to this planet I have never felt before.” Later that year, she planned to go back to Iceland, but the COVID-19 pandemic stopped her. Instead, she visited the Japanese island of Hokkaido many times during winter. These experiences led to the creation of the series M/E, which stands for “Mother Earth.”