Sigma Collaborates on Hiroshi Sugimoto's 'Extinction Photography' Exhibition Featuring 'CAMERA MAN' from June 16 to September 13, 2026

Sigma Corporation (headquartered in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan; President and CEO: Kazuto Yamaki) announces its collaborative production support for 'CAMERA MAN,' an artwork featured in the 'Hiroshi Sugimoto: Extinction Photography' exhibition, held from June 16 (Tue) to September 13 (Sun), 2026, in partnership with JINS Inc., the company behind the eyewear brand JINS.

'CAMERA MAN' 2026 / PHOTO: Masatomo Moriyama (Masatomo Moriyama)

Held at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, this exhibition showcases approximately 60 silver gelatin photographs by contemporary artist Hiroshi Sugimoto, spanning from his early works in the late 1970s to the present. These conceptually rigorous and uniquely expressive works represent the pinnacle of silver gelatin photographic technique. In an era where digital photography has largely replaced film, this method is now considered to be on the verge of 'extinction.'

This solo exhibition, composed entirely of photographic works, marks the first such event in Japan since the 2005 exhibition at the Mori Art Museum. Additionally, a satellite exhibition on the third floor of the Collection Gallery will display all of the museum's holdings of Sugimoto's works, along with previously unreleased materials, including the 'Sugimoto Note,' which reveals the secrets behind his creative process.

'CAMERA MAN,' one of the featured works, was developed based on Sugimoto's concept that 'a camera is a device that mirrors the structure of the human eye.' By manually triggering the shutter of a glasses-type camera with a 1-second shutter speed, the wearer experiences a 3-minute period of darkness, followed by a 1-second exposure of the external scene, which is then 'exposed' and 'stored' on the retina—equivalent to film in memory. By combining JINS's expertise in eyewear design and technology with Sigma's precision optical manufacturing and advanced processing techniques, the project has realized a 'human camera' that integrates a shutter into the human eye.

Hiroshi Sugimoto's Concept for 'CAMERA MAN'

A camera is a device that mirrors the structure of the human eye: the lens corresponds to the crystalline lens, the aperture to the pupil, and the film to the retina. However, the shutter is not naturally present in the human eye. Thus, I conceived of integrating a shutter into the human eye, creating a 'human camera.' The shutter speed is set to 1 second, manually triggered by the user. Before the exposure, the user spends 3 minutes in darkness. Then, for one brief moment, a 1-second external scene is exposed onto the retina. This image appears on the retina and is stored in memory—like film—though image degradation varies by individual but generally occurs quite rapidly. Metaphorically, I equate this 1-second exposure to a human lifetime. Assuming an average lifespan of 85 years, these 3 minutes represent approximately 15,000 years—a duration nearly identical to the period during which humanity has developed consciousness and civilization. This device was conceived to allow people to viscerally experience the length of civilizational time through the metaphor of a single human life.

Exhibition Overview

'Hiroshi Sugimoto: Extinction Photography' June 16 (Tue) – September 13 (Sun), 2026 / 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (until 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays) Closed on Mondays (except July 20) and Tuesday, July 21

Venue

National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, 1F Special Exhibition Gallery

https://art.nikkei.com/sugimoto/

About Hiroshi Sugimoto

Born in 1948, Sugimoto moved to the United States in 1970 and has since divided his time between New York and Japan, creating art since 1974. His early representative series include 'Dioramas,' 'Seascapes,' and 'Theaters.' In 2008, he founded the architectural design firm 'New Material Research Laboratory,' and in 2009, established the Odawara Cultural Foundation, a public interest foundation. In 2017, he opened 'Enoura Observatory,' a cultural facility in Odawara realized after a decade-long vision. His production and spatial design work 'At the Hawk’s Well' was staged at the Paris Opera in autumn 2019.

His publications include 'Until the Moss Covers,' 'Phenomena,' 'The Origin of Art,' 'Enoura Monogatari,' and 'Diary of a Shadow Old Man.' He received the Hasselblad Foundation International Award in Photography in 2001, the Praemium Imperiale in Painting in 2009, the Purple Ribbon Medal of Honor in autumn 2010, and was appointed Officier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by France in 2013. He was designated a Person of Cultural Merit in 2017 and became a member of the Japan Art Academy in 2023.

About JINS

JINS is Japan’s leading eyewear brand by sales revenue, widely supported by people of all ages and genders. The brand consistently offers around 1,200 frame styles, ranging from classics to trend-driven designs. JINS continues to pursue innovation to enrich customers’ lives, including collaborations with globally active designers and architects, and the development of AI-powered services. As of the end of June 2026, JINS operates 870 stores across Japan, China, North America, Taiwan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Mongolia.

*Based on sales revenue comparison among Japanese eyewear retail companies (as of November 2025, according to Tokyo Shoko Research)

www.jins.com

About Sigma

'The Art of engineering. Engineering for Art.' Elevating engineering to the realm of art, and dedicating engineering to art.

Sigma is a Japanese optical equipment manufacturer specializing in the production and sale of cameras, lenses, and accessories. Since its founding in 1961, Sigma has remained deeply committed to the passion for expression, striving to provide the finest photographic tools for every need. The high quality of 'Made in Aizu, Japan,' achieved through Sigma’s sole production base in Aizu and a supply chain centered in the Tohoku region, embodies the very essence of Sigma—where local wisdom and advanced technology converge.

www.sigma-global.com

Inquiries

pr@sigma-photo.co.jp