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Finding Beauty in Fukushima: Michael Kenna’s Quiet Act of Regeneration

A photograph taken at dawn, in near silence, with the shutter open for minutes rather than a fraction of a second. That is how Michael Kenna has made his living for fifty years — and it is how he approached a place most of the world still associates with catastrophe.

Kostuik Gallery presents Beautiful Fukushima, opening October 15, a new body of work by the internationally renowned British photographer. The 50 sepia-toned silver gelatin photographs mark fifteen years since the natural disasters of 2011, and stand as a testament to Fukushima’s striking recovery in the years since.

Heidodan Sakura Tree, Study 205, Fukushima, Japan. 2026

A Photographer Known for Stillness

Kenna’s photographs are known for their enigmatic stillness, largely a product of the long exposures he favours, often made at dawn or at night. “You can’t always see what’s otherwise noticeable during the day,” he has said. “With long exposures you can photograph what the human eye is incapable of seeing.”

Since the mid-1980s, Kenna has worked primarily with Hasselblad medium-format and Holga cameras, which account for the square format of most of his images. Every photograph in this exhibition is hand-printed by Kenna himself, in his own darkroom, using the same sepia-toned silver gelatin process he has practiced for 45 years — a traditional, non-digital medium he has described as being in danger of becoming a lost art.

Fifty-Six Foxes, Takayashiki Inari Shrine, Fukushima, Japan. 2026

Kintsugi, the Phoenix, and a Remarkable Recovery

“I should state openly that for me, and perhaps for many others, the word Fukushima far too easily kindles dark memories of fifteen years ago,” Kenna said. “I cannot help associating the prefecture with kintsugi, the centuries-old Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics by mending fractures with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.”

“I also think of the mythological phoenix, an immortal, legendary bird that is reborn from its own ashes,” he continued. “Both metaphors seem appropriate for the remarkable regeneration of Fukushima.”

Sairyuji in Snow, Mishima, Fukushima, Japan. 2026

A Career Collected by Museums Worldwide

This exhibition marks the latest chapter in a body of work spanning five decades. Kenna has published 47 books of his photography, with work held in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, among others.

In 2022, France‘s Minister of Culture named Kenna an Officier des Arts et des Lettres, an honour that placed his life archive — more than 3,600 original prints and an astounding 175,000 negatives spanning 43 countries — in the permanent collection of the French State.

Jitokuji Tanemaki Sakura, Study, Fukushima, Japan. 2026

A Return to Kostuik Gallery

“We’re thrilled to be hosting Michael in Vancouver for his new collection,” said Jennifer Kostuik, owner and director of the gallery. Kenna’s work first appeared at Kostuik Gallery in a 2019 group exhibition, and Beautiful Fukushima marks his 2026 return with a dedicated solo presentation.

“Fukushima is a difficult subject, but his compelling images find something hopeful in it, and I think that’s exactly what people need to see in person,” Kostuik said. “Michael’s work is exquisitely crafted and reflects a sense of refinement, presenting windows of beauty and reflection, something everyone worldwide values.”

Talking Trees, Urabandai, Fukushima, Japan. 2026

A limited-edition mini-collotype portfolio of the Fukushima series, signed by Michael Kenna, will be available for purchase at the opening event.

Exhibition Details

Exhibition: Beautiful Fukushima, Michael Kenna
Dates: October 15 through November 1
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 15, 5 to 7pm, artist in attendance
Location: Kostuik Gallery, 1070 Homer Street, Vancouver
Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 6pm; Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday, 12pm to 4pm
Follow: Instagram for exhibition updates

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Luxury Lifestyle Observer: Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury and luxury lifestyle niches. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read business magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and is an EIC for Hire. Connect with her here: [email protected].