Jin Ohashi is one of the most popular and significant photographers in Japan today. His work in earlier books, "Menomaenotsuduki" and "Ima", took the public by surprise with its dynamic realism. This autumn, he is back after a seven-year absence with a new book of photographs, Surrendered Myself to the Chair of Life.

"I think the fact that life starts--and each person starts his or her own life--to me means that everyone has a calling," says Ohashi. "We are all led to take our seat at a particular place, which is already prepared for us ... At this moment, I am alive in this world, where we all are alive. I wanted to take my seat at that place."

Surrendered Myself to the Chair of Life challenges us to look at the place where we live, the place where life begins. A fundamental body of work, i t reflects the life of an individual rather than society as a whole. By exploring the last frontiers of life, new meanings can be created through the formation of relationships with others. It is this exploration that makes Ohashi's work multi-layered and real.

"Jin Ohashi has a natural instinct for photography. He really is in a class of his own. Is this photography? It is undoubtedly contemporary art!" -- Nobuyoshi Araki