NGMA Hosts Preview of Tokyo Before/After Photography Exhibition in Delhi

A preview of the travelling photography exhibition 'Tokyo Before/After' was held at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, showcasing the Japanese capital's urban transformation and evolution over several decades.

The exhibition, organised jointly by The Japan Foundation and the National Gallery of Modern Art with the support of the Ministry of Culture, juxtaposes images of Tokyo across different eras to capture a city in flux.

Opening the preview, Koji Sato, Director General of The Japan Foundation, addressed the gathering in Hindi. After greeting attendees with "Namaskar", Sato expressed his gratitude, saying, "Main humari taraf se bahut bahut dhanyawad kehna chahta hoon ki Ministry of Culture ne humare proposal ko dil se accept kiya."

Sato also sang lines from the classic song "Le gayi dil gudiya Jaapaan ki, pagal kar diya mujhe… Jaapaan, love in Tokyo" during the event. Highlighting the common ground between the two capitals, he noted that the shared bond between Delhi and Tokyo lies in the people's affection for their city and its historical and cultural assets.

The preview featured a performance by a troupe of Japanese women playing traditional Taiko drums. Among the works displayed at the exhibition is 'Risen In The East on the Asakusa' (2011).

Key dignitaries present at the event included Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture; Jinichi Kadowaki, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Japan; Sanjeev Kishor Goutam, Director General of NGMA; and artist Jatin Das.