EMILY ALLCHURCH - AN UNMISSABLE 'TOKYO STORY'

I was recently invited down to London by an artist I've admired for the last ten years, Emily Allchurch. I wrote an article featuring Emily for Digital Photographer issue 102 and am putting together a new feature on her so the timing was perfect. A quick flight later and I was at the Daiwa-Anglo Japanese Foundation where 'Tokyo Story', Emily's latest exhibition, runs until March 11th.

Emily's work updates old masters by digitally recreating them with a modern twist - the images are composites from hundreds of photos Emily has taken, painstakingly blended together over weeks and months. 'Tokyo Story' is homage to Hiroshige’s last great work, ‘One Hundred Famous Views of Edo’ (1856-58).

Emily and I spent a good few hours talking about her creative process and her fascinating journey as an artist. We also managed to sort out the entire UK policy on arts funding, so if David or Nick want to give us a ring they know where we are.

I can't stress how important it is to see Emily's work in person. It is transcendent. I could have happily looked at and discussed a single image in the time we had, such is the level of detail and curious wonder it brings. Oh, and if you've never viewed a lightbox image before, you will be utterly spoiled. They're wonderful.

We also took some time to take a few new shots for Emily to use for publicity. That's the BT tower in the background:

Many thanks to Emily for inviting me down. If you can't get to Daiwa in time, 'Tokyo Story' moves on to the Diemar/Noble Photography Gallery from from 17th March - 7th May. The private view is on Wednesday 16th March from 6.30-8.30pm - all welcome! Take a plane, train, bus, bike or simply walk. It's a trip to Japan you won't want to miss.