David Burdeny

David Burdeny - Sakura and Umbrellas, Kyoto, Japan, 2019, Printed After

"Shinto is Japan’s oldest religion, with origins dating back to the tail end of the Stone Age. While many Japanese people do not consider themselves religious, a large percentage of the population still follows Shinto ideas today. You don’t have to venture far in the country to find one of its 80,000 shrines. They stand tall in quiet forests, over the water along the island’s coasts, and above rice fields. Shinto was not born from a specific founder or religious scripture—it lives within the people. It is not a defining characteristic—rather, it is a part of life. Personal virtues are emphasized over strict rituals or rules. Benevolence, harmony, courage, and gratitude all support the key theme of Shinto: the concept of purity, or harae. The religion holds that humans are inherently good and should cleanse themselves of moral and spiritual impurities. Followers strive to achieve makoto no kokoro—a heart of truth. You will see a version of this ritual at the entrance of shrines. Visitors gather at a water basin and use a wooden ladle to pour water over each of their hands. It's fitting that some of Japan’s animal residents appear to find their own quiet form of renewal in the mountains. For centuries, monkeys have appeared in Japanese folklore with a variety of meanings. They have been used as metaphors for tricksters and the negative traits of humans, but they have also served as sacred messengers to the gods. On this rainy morning in northern Japan, I observed macaques who seemed to embody both roles. There were the raucous individuals—screeching, pulling hair, and chasing others beside the hot springs—falling...

Series: Hydrid Souls Archival Pigment Print Edition of 2 + 2 AP Available Size: 50" x 78.74" 55.11" x 86.61" 59" x 92.51" Born in Istanbul in 1978, Ali Alışır started his graphic...

"Beneath Yellowstone’s thousands of square miles of mountains, pine forests, lakes, and rivers lies a vast volcanic system—one that has given rise to more than ten thousand thermal f...

Series: Hydrid Souls Archival Pigment Print Edition of 2 + 2 AP Available Size: 50" x 78.74" 55.11" x 86.61" 59" x 92.51" Born in Istanbul in 1978, Ali Alışır started his graphic...

No title (No 39) Ballet Photography 45 x 45 in Ed. of 18 by Yevgeniy Repiashenko No title (No 39) by Yevgeniy Repiashenko Year photo was taken: 2016 Limited Edition of 18 Picture s...

"After the Dance" Photography 24" x 32" in Edition of 10 by Lika Brutyan Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag Baryta. Signed and numbered by the artist COA issued by the a...

Untitled (Nr. 4564) Figurative Photography 44" x 36" in Ed of 12 by Rowan Daly Signed and numbered by the artist Comes with COA issued by the artist Unframed - ships rolled in a tub...

No Title (No 11) Ballet Photography 32 x 32 in Ed. of 25 by Yevgeniy Repiashenko Photography Year photo was taken: 2017 This picture is a part of Spirit series. Magic dance movem...