Brian Brake: Lens on China and Japan

Brian Brake: Lens on China and Japan offers two slices from Brian Brake’s long career: photographs of China the late 1950s, and photographs of Japan between 1963 and 1964. Today these images rank firmly among his best work.

Brake was one of only a small number of Western photographers to gain access to China in the 1950s. He travelled extensively, taking many photographs of everyday scenes. These were eagerly snapped up by international magazines.

As well as 32 prints, the exhibition includes documentary footage and examples of magazines in which Brake’s work appeared.

Brian Brake: Lens on China and Japan gives an unprecedented insight into Brake's view of these two nations. The exhibition was made possible by the generous gift, from Wai-man Lau, of Brake’s photographic archive to Te Papa, making it available to the nation for future generations.

‘Offerings to the unknown dead, Kyoto’ [Toshi Satow offering a candle] taken for a series on Japan for Life, 1964, Kyoto, by Brian Brake. Gift of Wai Man Lau, 2010. Te Papa (CT.059863)

Tour schedule

Brian Brake: Lens on China and Japan exhibited at:

• Millennium Art Gallery, Blenheim, 1 Aug – 6 Sep 2015

Hosting enquiries

Jake Yocum, Touring Exhibition Manager
touringexhibitions@tepapa.govt.nz