EXHIBITION & ARTIST TALK - NYC SUBWAY 2007-2009, HIROYUKI ITO
- Feb 26
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 8
During my time in Japan, the last two months of 2025, I experienced an unexpected and meaningful moment connected to my work with The Pictorial List. Earlier in the year I had written a story about Hiroyuki Ito’s project NYC Subway Riders Before the Invasion of Smartphones. I felt honoured to share his work, which documents the atmosphere of the New York subway before mobile phones changed the way people occupy public space.
Six months after the article was published, Hiro kindly invited me to attend his first exhibition and artist talk in Tokyo. By coincidence, I was already scheduled to be in Tokyo with my son on the same dates as the exhibition. I attended the exhibition opening at UNITEDcafe in Setagaya, where Hiro presented a series of black-and-white photographs made between 2007 and 2009.
Seeing the prints in person was wonderful. People sit, pause, or drift into their own thoughts, unaware of the camera. Without smartphones dominating their attention, the photographs reveal a different kind of public space, one where people appear present within their surroundings.
The evening included a joint artist talk between Hiro and his close friend, the well-known musician Makoto Kubota. The event brought together visual imagery and sound, allowing the audience to experience the photographs while listening to Makoto's music, creating an atmosphere that connected memory, place, and mood. Their conversation explored the atmosphere of New York during that period together. Hearing them speak about the project added another layer to the experience, linking visual storytelling with music and cultural history.
Although there was a language barrier, the experience still felt very warm and welcoming. Communication moved between English, Japanese, and attempts with Google Translate, which did not work very well in such a lively environment. Despite this, Hiro expressed his gratitude for the article I had written. Hearing him thank me in person was a very special moment. He also acknowledged the story in his beautifully produced catalogue, which meant a great deal to me.
A week later my son and I met for lunch with Hiro and his wife Mayu. Being able to spend time together outside the exhibition setting made the experience even more memorable. It reminded me how art connects people across cultures. What began as an editorial story developed into a real exchange between artists, reinforcing the importance of the art community and networking.
Reflecting on this experience, I was reminded that photography is not only about images. It is also about relationships, conversations, and the communities that grow around visual storytelling. Moments like this demonstrate how engaging with artists can open unexpected doors and create meaningful connections within this creative world.
References:
Photography in exhibition and story by Hiroyuki Ito © 2007-2009
Photography of opening night event © Melanie Meggs
The Pictorial List 2026, The Pictorial List, website, viewed 27 February 2026, <https://www.thepictorial-list.com/>.
Meggs, M. 2025, NYC subway riders before the invasion of smartphones, The Pictorial List, viewed 27 February 2026, <https://www.thepictorial-list.com/pictorial-stories/nyc-subway-riders-before-the-invasion-of-smartphones>.
