Report of Arles Photo Folio Review 2014
Hiroaki Hasumi　蓮見 浩明

Basically, in my photographic series of ‘Nippon’, I tried to integrate Japanese traditional artistic elements into the modern digital art of photography. I choose cherry blossom as a motif of my pictures. Because the cherry blossom has been a symbol of the soul of the Japanese people and has had a special meaning to us since ancient times. The blossom is figuratively expressed as the sense of beauty and the view of life of Japanese people. I want to express those senses by using Japanese traditional techniques in the new art of digital photography.

この写真作品シリーズ「Nippon」は現代の表現力豊かなデジタルアートの可能性に、日本の伝統的な芸術の要素を吹き込むというコンセプトに基づいている。
このシリーズのモチーフを桜にしたのはそのためで、古代より桜は日本人にとって特別な存在だった。私は桜に比喩される日本人の生命観や美意識を、伝統的技法を用いながら新たなデジタルアートとして表現したいと考えた。

Process

My photographic series are greatly influenced by the Japanese-style painting technique. I cut out what doesn’t leave much impression but emphasize the element that creates strong images. Despite of expressing in two dimensions, the beauty of the traditional Japanesestyle painting is compared favorably with the real things. By adjusting the tone of the color of the cherry blossoms and the background separately, I could accentuate the cherry blossom’s presence in my photograph.

このシリーズは日本画の手法に大きく影響されている。印象の少ないものは省略し、強いものは誇張する。二次元化しているにもかかわらず、三次元にも勝る美観を持つというのが日本画の伝統的な表現である。そこで桜の花と背景を別々にトーン調整し、桜の存在感を際立たせた。

I met 14 experts such as gallery owners, festival coordinators and curators from European countries and made photo reviews to them.

欧州各国のギャラリストやフェスティバルコーデイネーター、キュレーターを中心に14名のExpertにレビューを行った。

Result

I got good comments by many reviewers. They said my concept of photography and the prints were unique and beautiful, and also said that I should keep doing my project. I think it because they expect my better work in my photography.
Besides, I was asked to give more information about the edition and the price of my pictures.
A gallery owner from Barcelona suggested holding an exhibition with SAMURAI FOTO members. However, when it comes to sell the prints, the weak economic condition in Europe is affected and I couldn’t make a good progress. It’s a well-known fact that the art develops with in the good economy condition. Nowadays, we communicate via internet which seems narrow world. I need my eyes and ears wide open all the time not to miss the opportunities and I have to keep in touch with them. To keep doing photo reviews and brushing up my works is very important, too.
After the photo reviews, my thought for the art has changed like this; the art is the thing that empathizes with people in the world and finds the better way to live. Of course the individuality and the technique of the print are important but artists should have strong thoughts and philosophies for what we make.
In the future I want to make my statement deeper, and improve the level of the print.
Both of the statement and the print should be linked with each other. For achieving, I need to have the identity as Japanese. Moreover, I have to develop global awareness and be more attractive. My goal is to be a photographer who can give ‘dreams, new discoveries and happiness’ to people throughout the world.