Polaraki, a thousand polaroids by Araki Nobuyoshi: the Musée Guimet exhibition unveiled

Polaroid photography has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Some, however, have never stopped creating and pushing the limits of this artistic tool... The Musée Guimet pays tribute toJapanese artist Araki Nobuyoshi, a renowned photographer now in the limelight for his polaroid works and his experimental work with photography.

The exhibition Polaraki, mille polaroids d'Araki Nobuyoshi (Polaraki, a thousand polaroids by Araki Nobuyoshi) unveils almost 30 years of photographic work, produced between 1997 and 2024. Presented from October 1, 2025 to January 12, 2026, this exhibition introduces us to the work of a deliberately provocative artist. The exhibition features several hundred photographs, presented in 43 columns of nine frames.

The Musée Guimet wanted to reproduce the decor of Stéphane André, the collector who donated Araki Nobuyoshi's photographs to the museum. Thus, this exhibition presents both the work of the Japanese photographer, and the passion of this private collector for art.

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This collection of polaroids could almost be a diary in pictures. Every day, the Japanese artist photographs what inspires him, what he sees and feels. He stages his subjects to evoke the impulses that drive him: death and sex are regular themes in his work. In fact, the subject of sex, eroticism and sensuality is very often found in the photographs on display at the Musée Guimet: this exhibition is therefore aimed at a mature, informed public.

Alongside these works, the Musée Guimet is showcasing the work of collector Stéphane André, who for years has been collecting these snapshots and exhibiting them in a kind of private cabinet of curiosities, a space where art and the bizarre mingle. To convey this spirit, the exhibition is presented in the museum's rotunda: a circular, intimate room that brings together most of the works in this show.

This unprecedented photo exhibition, on view from autumn 2025 in Paris, is sure to fascinate photography and art lovers alike.

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