IBASHO presents a solo exhibition by Japanese photographer Takako Kido. 'Skinship' is a widely used term in Japan describing the skin-to-skin, heart-to-heart bond between a mother and child, as well as between other family members. Kido was arrested for producing so-called controversial photographs, yet she remains determined to demonstrate through her work the strength of family ties.
'Skinship' is regarded as an important prerequisite for the healthy development of family relationships in general, and particularly those between parents and children. From breastfeeding to cuddling, rough-and-tumble play and even bathing together, these physical interactions express close attachment. By feeling loved through touch, a child also learns to pass this on to others later in life. It is likewise considered essential to healthy development. With the rise of Western parenting styles, these Japanese child-rearing rituals gradually fell out of favour.
Takako Kido’s work seeks to show how we can sustain human connection in a divided world saturated with information. After completing her studies at the International Center of Photography in New York, she continued working there in a photo lab. She began a relationship with a man who had a son from a previous marriage. Photographs of their skinship were developed at a chemist’s, where staff alerted the police upon seeing the family snapshots. Kido and her partner were detained in the notorious remand facility on Rikers Island. Following their release, the family was forced to relocate to Kido’s birthplace, Kochi in Japan. The photographer resolved to channel this experience into her work.
In Kido’s own words:
“I had absolutely not realised that skinship might be considered shocking in other cultures. After my arrest, I wanted to show that it is in fact about universal feelings of love, warmth and safety. Skinship also felt entirely natural to me at the birth of my son, Taiyo, in 2012. While breastfeeding, there was no longer any distance between my son’s body and my own. It felt symbiotic in a way I had never experienced before. I wanted to capture that feeling in self-portraits and photographs of my growing son. I also wanted to show that motherhood freed me from constraints such as shame and the sexualisation of the female body. Making this work has helped me to process past experiences in that regard.”
Art Book
To coincide with the opening of the exhibition, an artist’s book of the same title will be published on 21 March by IBASHO, in an edition of 250 copies, including 10 special editions. Both versions will be available at the gallery and via the online bookshop. The special edition consists of numbered and signed copies, each accompanied by a unique work.
The exhibition 'Skinship' will be on view from 21 March to 3 May 2026 at IBASHO in Antwerp. The vernissage will take place on Saturday 21 March from 14:00 to 18:00, in the presence of the artist. Kido will give an artist talk at 16:00 and will sign copies of her new book 'Skinship'.
Artists: Takako Kido
