AWARDS

Born in Kyoto in 1981.  Attended Suzuki Risaku workshop at Inter Medium Institute while at college. Initially started taking photographs, he was fascinated by the function of “disconnection” that photography created, the way in which it blurs things. Took snapshots without setting subjects or themes in mind. Took leave from the college for two years and in his 6^th year in 2006, he was selected for the 3.3m² exhibition.  Since his job search didn’t go well, he became a part-time worker nonchalantly using his exhibition experience and started taking photographs while working part time.  However, he felt that his photographs gradually became too similar and so he could no longer pursue the direction “meaninglessness”in which he originally aimed for.  Started to feel anxious about the future which led to stomach aches. To change his environment, he took an entrance exam for the graduate school of Tokyo University of the Arts in 2008 and was accepted.  When he was losing direction of what subjects to take photos of, his father vanished for the first time in some years.  After a while, he returned but didn’t do anything at home.  Taking this opportunity, he thought he would try something new and started taking pictures of his father.  Started keeping a log of what happened and how he felt while interacting with his father.  By photographing him, he realized that photography could contain unexpected variations and he was reintroduced to photography.  Published “father” from SEIGENSHA in 2016.  As a reaction to the reception of his father disappearing in his work, he published “My father, still here” from Shobunsha in 2023 writing about his father, who is not always disappearing, himself and photography.  Now writing is an essential part of his activities. 

Became a guarantor of his aunt living in a hospital since 2010, he occasionally saw and took pictures of her.  Published “nagaiaida” from nanarui in 2023 consisting of his aunt’s photos and his journal until her passing.  While writing a journal about his father and aunt, he took a growing interest in logging as a medium, he started to work as a facilitator at workshops related to journals. 

Now, he is working on “Prayer / Nagasaki” which is to be published from Shoshitsukumo, dealing with the Nagasaki Peace Statue, Catholic culture, his beliefs and so on.  Also, working on his photographs capturing his own life living with other people, editing work is underway for publication.

Artist Statements

Thank you very much for awarding me the Higashikawa New Photographer Award. I would like to express my deep gratitude to my father and aunt, who accepted to being photographed.

Before publishing Father, I went to see my father to talk to him. I wanted to hear his feelings about this book centered on himself being released to the world.

My father said, “If you want to make it into a book, then you should do it.” His response was as expected, but what I really wanted to know was how he felt about the work itself, aside from my wishes. However, no matter how I changed my approach in asking, my father’s answer did not go beyond “If you want to do it, then do it.”

At that time, my father also said the following: “I don’t understand what it is that you’re doing. But that doesn’t mean I want to criticize or interfere with what you’re doing.”

I’m not saying that our relationship, characterized by such exchanges, is a good one. Rather, it could be said to be fraught with uncertainty. However, it was precisely because my father offered himself to me within this kind of relationship that a work like Father could be made.

I dedicate this award to my father and aunt, who offered themselves to me in this realm of photography.

KANAGAWA Shingo