Hiroaki Hasumi in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review

About FOTO FEST and Portfolio Review

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

FotoFest is the name of a non-profit organization which created the first international Biennial conference of artistic photographs and photo-related art in the U.S. Also, it is the name of the organization represents this international event. The event is held once every two years in Texas, Huston.
The first Biennial was held in 1986 in Huston. It is said to be the oldest biennial which has 30-year-history.
During the Fotofest, which lasts for one and a half months, they have many kinds of events like photo exhibitions, seminars, reviews and so on. The Portfolio review is referred to as ‘Meeting Place’. This is the world’s largest review event which lasts for 4 weeks and about 500 Photographic Artists and more than 60 reviewers attended. I participated in the third session of the third week.

About my artworks

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

Concept of my artwork

My new project ‘SAKURA ISM’, which is inherited from my previous project, ‘Nippon’. I tried to objectivize how Japanese people adore the cherry blossoms. Since ancient times, we have symbolized cherry blossoms as our spirits. Some famous Japanese Waka poets in history, like Saigyo and Basho, showed their feelings as the aesthetic value and the impermanence to cherry blossoms in Japanese poetry called waka. I want to express the cherry-blossom-admiration-culture in my photographs.
Besides that is my will to show the viewers that we have a strong bond between our long history and the cherry blossoms.

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

Technic

I used Ise-washi, which was an original hand-made paper for my photographs this time. It is a three-layered-structure paper and made of a paper bush, a type of plant called mitsumata. With many trials and errors for one year, I and Ise-washi craftsmen finally made up this new type of Isewashi paper for my project.
Features of the paper.

  • Every direction of the paper is deckle-edged.
  • The surface of the paper is made with delicate fiber.
  • Having an enough stiffness with three-layered structure.
  • Made with 100% Japanese mitsumata
  • The whiteness of the paper is well suited for expressing the cherry blossoms in the photograph.
  • It can be stored for a long period because it is a non-chemical paper.

Size : A2(16.5inch×23.4inch) Edition : each 5

  • 四方耳付きの手漉き生産
  • 繊細な繊維で作られる面質
  • 三層構造による十分な剛性感
  • 100%日本産三椏を使用
  • 桜を表現するのに適した紙白
  • 化学薬品不使用による長期保存性

About my portfolio review

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

Number of Reviewer

With the preliminary application, I made reservations with 16 reviewers. Also, I could do a presentation as lobbying to one of the gallerists and a person who was in charge of the Fotofest.
Luckily, I got 18 reviews in total.

What I learned

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明

Everyone was highly motivated at the Meeting Place of the Fotofest and has high leveled activities for artworks. Many of the reviewers were representatives from each division of the artworks.
They are empowered to make a decision there and then to buy it or not.
My aims for the Fotofest this time;

  1. To sign up with a gallery
  2. To have my own photo exhibition at some events/ to show my photos at the event.
Result;

  1. My photo prints were regarded with a high esteem by many reviewers. The original washi-paper was also highly evaluated with its quality.
  2. They showed a good understanding over the theme of my project, that means, as Japanese, I express Japanese traditions and spirits through the cherry blossoms in my photographs.
  3. Many of the reviewers had knowledge of the deep relationship between Japanese and cherry blossoms. Some of them did some research for it beforehand. I was happy to know that but at the same time, I was surprised how they were serious about the Meeting Place.
  4. As I had 20 minutes for presentation, there wasn’t enough time to know each other but I could finish the presentation in time. It was owing to my practice. I also think my experience in Arles two years ago was much of help.
  5. I got ‘keep-in-touch’ mail from 5 reviewers. The number of reply increased from the last fest at Arles. I’ll inform them about my activities and artworks and I want to be more involved with them.
  6. I had a great experience to get to see high leveled artworks from all over the world. I strongly feel that my artworks and the presentations should be raised to perfection level.
  1. プリントの評価は高く、オリジナル和紙は非常に高く評価された。
  2. 日本人である私が日本の伝統、精神を表現することに対して非常にスムーズに受け入れてくれた。
  3. 桜と日本人の関係について知識のあるレビューワーが多い。なかには事前に調べてくれている方もいて、嬉しく思うと同時にその真剣な対応に驚いた。
  4. 十分なコミュニケーションを取るには20分の時間では足りないが、ほとんどは練習どおり時間を守ることができた。一昨年のアルルでのレビューの経験も活きたようだ。
  5. 最終的に5名ほどのレビューワーからKeep in touchのメールをいただいた。アルルのときより確実に増えた。自分のアクティビティーや作品について情報を提供しながら関係を発展させていくつもりである。
  6. 世界のトップレベルのアーティストの高い作品に触れ、まだまだ自分の作品及びプレゼンテーションの完成度を上げていかなければいけないと思った。

Impressions

Thinking back all the experience in the Fotofest, I want to show and tell our culture more actively to the world. Through expanding cultural relations, we can foster global understanding, and I believe it helps to work for the world peace. Fortunately, we have traditional culture, a long history and a freedom of expression in Japan. As our technology of camera and printer is very developed, it is not difficult to get them. Moreover, we have washi-paper, which can be made with a special technique. I re-realized how lucky I am, as a photographer, to be in such a rich environment. Therefore, I will make the most of it in my photographs. I will put my thoughts, philosophy and identities as Japanese into my artworks.
In the Fotofest, everybody was serious for making good artworks. I was deeply inspired by the atmosphere.
Now I have to get started to make good artworks. I will face my thoughts sincerely and I hope I can take a perfect one for the Fotofest two years later.

The movie of my portfolio review

in FOTO FEST 2016 “Meeting Place”Portfolio Review Hiroaki Hasumi 蓮見 浩明