The Arts & Culture Journal

Mike Spriggs is a photographer who likes to travel. The ‘Nara’ series comes from a combination of passions for Mike – his love of cycling and a compelling drive to capture it on film.

Mike’s hosts in Japan kindly obliged to his wish of seeing a Japanese track bike race by taking him to the Keirin tour at Nara. The stadium almost empty for the midday races, Mike’s attention sits primarily on the racers – difficult to miss in their brightly coloured matching costumes.

His photos capture the strength of colour to give his subjects an almost cartoon appearance. Coupled with the elegant lines of the race-track, the viewer is struck by the stark contrast between the two.

Yet set on this surreal cartoon strip like series lies an expression of determination and focus on the faces of the riders. The skill and competitiveness of the spectacle is captured superbly in each frame amid a scene otherwise desolate of emotion.