Hiroshi Sugimoto: Dioramas
Hiroshi Sugimoto began Dioramas, his earliest photographic series, upon his arrival in New York in 1974. While visiting the American Museum of Natural History, the artist made an important observation. “The stuffed animals positioned before painted backdrops looked utterly fake, yet by taking a quick peek with one eye closed, all perspective vanished, and suddenly they looked very real,” recalls Sugimoto. “I had found a way to see the world as a camera does. However fake the subject, once photographed, it’s as good as real.”
![Black and white photograph of a mountainside diorama with two antelopes](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SUG-147-1158x900.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Nyala, 1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black-and-white photograph of a museum diorama of three vultures sitting on a rocky outcrop against a mountainous background](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/137_California-Condor-1994.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, California Condor, 1994
gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61.0 cm], edition of 25
![Black-and-white photograph of a museum diorama of prehistoric squid on the seafloor](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/114_Ordvican-Period-1992.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Ordovician Period, 1992
gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61.0 cm], edition of 25
![Black-and-white photograph of a museum diorama of early humans working with animal skins](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/143_Neanderthal-1994.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Neanderthal, 1994
gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61.0 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a grassland diorama scene with a pack of lions](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SUG-133-1366x900.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Lion, 1994
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of an island diorama scene with two large tortoises](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SUG-154-1440x809.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Galapagos, 1980
gelatin silver print, 25 x 20 inches (mount) [63.5 x 50.8 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a diorama depicting three gorillas within a verdant jungle with a mountain range on the horizon](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SUG-139.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Gorilla, 1994
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a diorama depicting two mountain lions resting within an enclave in the Grand Canyon](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SUG-109.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Mountain Lion, 1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [51 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a life size diorama of two cassowaries in a tropical setting with waterfall](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SUG-149.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Double Wattled Cassowary, 1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a diorama depicting apes foraging in the forest](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SUG-108.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Mandrill, 1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a diorama depicting a body of water surrounded by a verdant valley](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SUG-153.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Pennsylvanian Bay, 1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a mountainside diorama with two antelopes](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SUG-147.jpg?fit=675%2C525&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoNyala
1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black-and-white photograph of a museum diorama of three vultures sitting on a rocky outcrop against a mountainous background](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/137_California-Condor-1994.jpg?fit=675%2C448&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoCalifornia Condor
1994
gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61.0 cm], edition of 25
![Black-and-white photograph of a museum diorama of prehistoric squid on the seafloor](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/114_Ordvican-Period-1992.jpg?fit=675%2C457&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoOrdovician Period
1992
gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61.0 cm], edition of 25
![Black-and-white photograph of a museum diorama of early humans working with animal skins](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/143_Neanderthal-1994.jpg?fit=675%2C527&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoNeanderthal
1994
gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61.0 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a grassland diorama scene with a pack of lions](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SUG-133.jpg?fit=675%2C445&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoLion
1994
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of an island diorama scene with two large tortoises](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/SUG-154.jpg?fit=675%2C379&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoGalapagos
1980
gelatin silver print, 25 x 20 inches (mount) [63.5 x 50.8 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a diorama depicting three gorillas within a verdant jungle with a mountain range on the horizon](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SUG-139.jpg?fit=675%2C448&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoGorilla
1994
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a diorama depicting two mountain lions resting within an enclave in the Grand Canyon](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SUG-109.jpg?fit=675%2C419&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoMountain Lion
1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [51 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a life size diorama of two cassowaries in a tropical setting with waterfall](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/SUG-149.jpg?fit=675%2C379&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoDouble Wattled Cassowary
1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a diorama depicting apes foraging in the forest](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SUG-108.jpg?fit=675%2C415&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoMandrill
1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm], edition of 25
![Black and white photograph of a diorama depicting a body of water surrounded by a verdant valley](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SUG-153.jpg?fit=675%2C379&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoPennsylvanian Bay
1980
gelatin silver print, 20 x 25 inches (mount) [50.8 x 63.5 cm], edition of 25