Shoji Ueda｜Gone Are the Days Shoji Ueda

Gone Are the Days, a collotype portfolio featuring six iconic works personally cherished by Shoji Ueda—one of Japan’s most celebrated modernist photographers—presents a singular worldview where the everyday and the absurd intersect. The most defining feature of this portfolio lies in his staged photography, created through his distinct aesthetic known as "Ueda-cho" (Ueda style), often set against landscapes such as the Tottori Sand Dunes. By placing familiar subjects like family members and landscapes within surrealist compositions, Ueda introduces a subtle sense of disorientation to our visual experience, inviting viewers into a dreamlike world crafted by his artistic direction. To bring these evocative images to life, the works are printed using collotype—a master-class traditional technique preserved by the historic Kyoto printmaker Benrido, founded in 1887. Free from the halftone dots of standard offset printing, this continuous-tone process fully draws out the intricate details, delicate textures, and smooth, deep tonal gradations inherent to the photographs. Housed in a 258 × 206 mm slipcase with six prints, this remarkable portfolio offers an extraordinary artistic experience—one whose true depth can only be fully appreciated when held in hand, engaging both sight and touch.