《The Present shapes the Past》| Daisuke Abe

Imagining the future or reminiscing, ultimately, it all boils down to the present moment, to who we are now.

The present is the starting point of everything. Japanese photographer Daisuke Abe, in collaboration with Leica, curated the photography exhibition 《The Present Shapes the Past》, guiding viewers through two major series, 《 shape 》 and 《vague》, which explore the subtle relationships between light, form, time, and existence, bridging the gap between reality and abstraction.

"The past and the future do not exist; only this moment is real." This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the core concept of photographer Daisuke Abe's work.

He believes that the past is gone, the future has not arrived, and only the "now" is truly present. The past becomes the past because we give it meaning in the "present moment,” and this instant is the most important theme in his work.

The 《vague》Series – Beauty Exists in Everything

No matter what it is, beauty must exist within it. This is an attempt to discover perspectives invisible to the naked eye.

No two ways of seeing are the same. Everything has equal value and its own unique beauty.

— Daisuke Abe's core concept for the 《vague》 series.

The 《shape》 Series—Pure "Form."

What it is, where it is, is not important. Beautiful forms are what I want to see.

Without context or story, without trying to resonate with anyone's feelings, it simply exists as an image display of shapes.

— Daisuke Abe's core concept for the 《shape》 series.