The term "gaijin artist" can be something of an insult to those who make Japan their home. It is, after all, parochial and old-fashioned to differentiate artists strictly on the basis of what passport they carry.
But with three Western-born artists -- all of whom have been living and working in Tokyo for extended periods of time -- currently exhibiting in Tokyo, now is an opportunity to explore the phenomenon of gaijin (foreigner) artists in this city.
British-born Jeremy Thorpe has been in Japan for 16 years. For this bon vivant, it was time to get serious about showing his photography publicly. So he went local, arranging a show at the Asagaya "DJ Bar and Art Space," Gamuso. The exhibition features black-and-white and color pictures shot in Tokyo, many of them complemented by humorous, archaeologically inspired titles.