New Cosmos of Photography 2012 Grand Prize selection committee meeting report
[ Excellence Award winners’ presentations, and judges’ comments ]
The five Grand Prize candidates who were Excellence Award winners each gave 10-minute presentations, and they talked about the background and intent for creating their works, as well as how they felt about their works. The judges also gave their compliments, candid questions, and pointed criticisms, etc. on the outstanding works of art.
Shingo Kakita : “forever acid”
On a clear day when I was walking around town, the seats of many parked bicycles caught my eye. They looked familiar, and as I felt their comical, somewhat erotic shapes were interesting, I wanted to take photographs. The organic form of the seats, with their sensual luster was a very enticing motif. Rather than a precise portrayal, I made a point of shooting with a compact camera, and by going with a book format, I came up with a piece that you can look at smoothly and rhythmically.
Katsumi Omori : When viewed on a large screen, I felt a slightly different appeal from the exhibit. You were not pushing your view, and I think being a simple exhibit was good. I personally liked this piece.
Noi Sawaragi : In the everyday world, there are various bicycle seats, not just cool looking ones. You seemed to carefully select them, and I would like to have seen some seats that were not attractive, such as ones covered with plastic shopping bags.
HIROMIX : As the same shape is repeated at the same angle it does feel strange doesn’t it? It is stylish with good binding, and it felt sophisticated to me.
Yohei Kichiraku : “BIRDS”
I create my works based on little things I notice in everyday life, and inspirations that I have. This time as well, a book that I came across during a chance encounter in a flea market was what set it off. This book was on sale in the midst of tableware and everyday miscellaneous goods. It was a picture book about birds. It was a very old book, and some pages of bird pictures had been torn out by the previous owner. As I looked through it while imagining various things, I felt that the torn pages were making an appeal to me to free the rest of the birds. So, following this voice, I went into the forest with my own idea of freeing the birds, and took photos in such a way that they blended in with the forest.
Masafumi Sanai : This is somewhat of an adventure story isn’t it? The photographer is the director as well as the leading character. I was able to relate to the idea of setting something free an idea in your head, and creating a piece about things you notice in a photo lifestyle. Tearing out parts (birds) of a book, and placing them in the trees is not a technique; instead, I found it was a very acceptable way to view them. The composition was like a still life, and I felt it was good that it was not imposing. A part of me would like to see photos as miscellaneous goods, and I was able to draw a parallel with objects such as cups.
Noi Sawaragi : I felt that rather than by chance, events progressed according to a plan, and actions were carried out based on a planned story. By going into the forest, I believe you will encounter unexpected events. For example, there are creatures other than birds, adverse weather, or you could trip and fall. If you had put such accidents into the piece, it could have developed in a different, interesting direction. I felt that by only following a story, it lacked somewhat in terms of incentive.
