Leica Camera Japan Co., Ltd. is pleased to present the first-ever joint exhibition by Alan Schaller—recognized as a leading voice in contemporary monochrome photography—and Ryota, the bassist of ONE OK ROCK, who brings a unique photographic vision of his own. This will be a truly exceptional occasion that will showcase a collection of previously unreleased works that have never before been presented to the public.

In the colorless world of monochrome photography–often considered the origin of photographic expression–light and shadow, composition, and the essence of the photographed subject itself stand out all the more. This exhibition offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the monochrome expression. We invite you to experience the unique artistic vision of the featured artists.

I have been making monochrome photographs for ten years now and have dedicated my life to the pursuit. People sometimes ask me why I restrict myself to the grey scale, but I do not see it as a limitation. Picking a style and exploring it is my personal favorite way to approach photography. 

Many people consider black and white photography to be ‘retro’ or ‘old school’, but I wanted to explore the medium and see how far I could push contrast and abstraction with my camera. Black and white is all about playing with shape, form, texture and light, and my selection for this exhibition reflects many of the themes that I love to explore. 

I wanted to do this exhibition with Ryota because we share a love for this style of photography. Despite growing up thousands of miles apart and having very different lives, we have become very close friends largely due to our shared love of exploring, chasing light and being creative. 

Discovering photography changed my perspective on how I see and interact with the world around me. I now appreciate so many small moments, and my eyes have been opened to the beauty of life in the everyday, many details of which I used to walk past. This is the theme of this show, celebrating the power of photography as a universal language and producing images purely for the love of creativity and connection.

-Alan Schaller

For the past few years, I’ve been living my life through music and photography.

We never really know how much time we have left in life, but I truly feel that this journey I have started with music and photography will continue for the next 20 or 30 years and beyond.

I started taking photos as a means to capture all of our fleeting moments, one by one, in a form other than music.

What sparked my interest in black-and-white photography was Alan’s work.

The moment I saw his photos, something changed inside of me.
I was captivated by the complex beauty of “black and white.”

I’m filled with nothing but gratitude to Alan and Leica for giving me this opportunity.
 

-Ryota

Alan Schaller was born in 1988 in London, where he still lives today. He took up photography in 2015 as a pastime, only to find his work published only one year later in magazines and newspapers in the UK. Since then, his portfolio and profile have gone from strength to strength, and today he is regarded as one of the most renowned photographers of his generation.

Described by Leica as "an icon of contemporary black and white photography" and by teNeues Publishing as "setting the standards in modern street photography", his work is known for its strong contrast and focus on shape and form and focus on life in urban environments.

As the co-founder of Street Photography International, he has been instrumental in promoting and supporting the work of emerging street photographers worldwide.

Many brands have sought Alan's distinct monochrome style, and he has worked on campaigns ranging from fashion shoots to work for tourism boards. His work has been exhibited all over the world in more than 30 solo shows since his very first in 2017.

Alan had a career in the music industry prior to picking up the camera, and is a multi-instrumentalist composer, music producer and mixer.

https://www.alanschaller.com

https://www.instagram.com/alan_schaller

Ryota has been the bassist of ONE OK ROCK since the band was formed in 2005. With powerful bass lines and a strong sense of groove that blends elements of rock, pop, emo, and metal, he brings depth and dynamic musicality to the band’s sound. 

Alongside his music career, Ryota also has a deep interest in fashion and cameras, and in recent years has taken on responsibilities for the band’s styling and visual design. Earlier this year, the band released “DETOX”, their first new album in nearly two and a half years, and embarked on a world tour in April. A long-awaited stadium concert tour of Japan is scheduled for August.

https://www.oneokrock.com/jp

https://www.instagram.com/ryota_0809