Noritaka Minami - Facade

$100.00

Facade, 2011

AIR 2017

Inkjet print on paper
8 × 10 Inches

From 2010 to 2022, I documented the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo, Japan, in a series titled “1972.” The architect Kisho Kurokawa, who designed this experimental building with 140 removable capsule apartments, envisioned it as the future of architecture in 1972. My project investigated what became of this structure as it faced imminent disappearance decades later. I captured the various states of individual capsules to reflect on the passage of time since the building first opened as a prototype for the future. My work at this building concluded when it was finally demolished in August 2022.

This print is available only from September 17th - December 7th, 2026. After this date, this image will not be made available in this format again.

Facade, 2011

AIR 2017

Inkjet print on paper
8 × 10 Inches

From 2010 to 2022, I documented the Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo, Japan, in a series titled “1972.” The architect Kisho Kurokawa, who designed this experimental building with 140 removable capsule apartments, envisioned it as the future of architecture in 1972. My project investigated what became of this structure as it faced imminent disappearance decades later. I captured the various states of individual capsules to reflect on the passage of time since the building first opened as a prototype for the future. My work at this building concluded when it was finally demolished in August 2022.

This print is available only from September 17th - December 7th, 2026. After this date, this image will not be made available in this format again.

Noritaka Minami

Noritaka Minami is an artist based in Chicago who uses lens-based media to critically examine the built environment. In his projects, Minami explores the camera’s potential not only to document the physical appearance of sites but also to engage with their underlying histories that are not necessarily apparent at first. He believes investigating the overlooked legacies of these sites is crucial in understanding their significance in contemporary society.

Thoughts on the lab

The residency at Latitude provided me invaluable time to develop my “California City, California” project. It was great to use the piezography printer at Latitude to make large-format black-and-white prints.