The 5th Exhibition of New Cosmos of Photography 1996
Report on the open-selection meetings
Public selection : Dec.7.1996(SAT)
An open-selection meeting to decide the grand prize winner 1996 was held at the venue of the fifth exhibition of “New Cosmos of Photography,” at P3, auditorium of Tochoji Temple in Yotsuya, Tokyo. The panel of judges was composed of three regular members, Nobuyoshi Araki, Fumio Nanjo, and Kotaro Iizawa, and a guest judge, Kaoru Izima. From the 13th and the 14th open contests, Rika Noguchi won the grand prize. There was a tense atmosphere at the venue.
Overall Evaluation
At the 5th open-selection meeting of “New Cosmos of Photography,” the winning works of the 13th and 14th contests were evaluated.
Overview of the 13th selection
Nobuyoshi Araki
I found many participants have photographed their own daily lives this time.
But, only Miss KANNO’s works, which I selected, express the feel of a life. I suppose a photographer need not only a technical skill, but also a personal life seen with sensitive eyes. Miss KANNO’s works have an apparently masculine touch. Recently, I have realized that the composition of work should start with a lot of images.
Time and space are just small details, even much smaller than them. We would reach something profound by piling up many tiny fragments.
Kotaro Iizawa
I noticed the quality of presentation has improved remarkably since the beginning of this competition. But, my general impression of this is not good, rather than bad just like after having an uncooked meal. I would like to remind all of the entrants to be disciplined when putting their ideas together. I especially advise photographers to be critical of view their own works when presenting a diary or album. However, the four winning works are very impressive, and each one has a distinguished world.
Fumio Nanjo
I wish to encounter something totally unknown, something beyond my imagination. A new way of presentation alone is never enough. I believe there should primarily be a solid subject and competent basis. Excellent work is just from the exquisite fusion of content and presentation. Where does unique content come from? It comes from the original personality of the artist. Where does original personality come from? Perhaps it comes from talent or ample experience of life. “Personality” is equal to “persistence,” “absorbability,” and “insistence” in other words. This is what you have to ask to yourself constantly.
Kaoru Izima
I have found a poor variety of expressions, techniques, and trends among the entries. They can be classified in very few different genres. Many of them seem to be following the latest fashion. I wonder if the participants are eager to photograph what they want to express, starting from a fundamental question to themselves: “Why do they photograph?” Generally, works with a high level of technical skill are apt to be considered old-fashioned, and speaking works swimming with the tide look flippant. For myself, I have been looking for something completely different, not old, not new, perhaps what is called avant-garde. To create something truly new, we should have respect for tradition and a passion to improve our own techniques. I think we need to face the future with a constructive attitude. Lastly, I wish young photographers would create original worlds by accumulating techniques and asking themselves; “Why do I photograph?”
Overview of the 14th selection
Nobuyoshi Araki
The popularity of album-style applications probably indicates that the act of creating a work of art is getting more personal. In the process of taking picture and completing them as works of art, the works themselves are kept as “mine,” by the photographer. Even when they show the pictures to others, the photographers/artists would show them only to their close friends. I feel that these pictures remain on that level. The images photographed give me an impression of “games.” They act like “lies,” not reality. It seems fashionable to look “void” and “empty,” but that becomes meaningful only when there is “substance.” The style of not facing the subject and trying to catch to flowing situation out of focus makes me feel as if something is wrong here. This time, I would definitely prefer to stick to the “Old Cosmos of Photography.”
Kotaro Iizawa
This time the winner is a male, which is rare. Despite the recent boom of young female photographers, the “weekend” men seem to have shown their underlying strength in this exhibition. Of course female entrants are making valiant efforts, but it seems sometimes as if their stvles are becoming alike and people are getting used those styles. In terms of overall quality, this group of works was not outstanding. I’d like to see works with a theme on which the photographer takes a lot of time, not something coming off the top of his head and pushed through and created by force). Nevertheless, it is important to amuse. I want photographers to have the power to involve the viewer, not detach them.
Fumio Nanjo
Most of the works are series compiling a large number of photos. I welcome such a style because, for a judge, it is easier to grasp the artist’s intention. Using this method, however, a contradictory element in the whole concept could destroy the meaning of the work, and I want the photographer to be concerned about this. The overall trend of the works is gloomy. They are sometimes subtle, dark, or nostalgic in a sepia tone. They might be reflecting the atmosphere of the times, but it does not hurt to have a happy work. There were many photos created by the photocopying method. The photographers probably prefer the rough, uneven quality and the accompanying feeling that photocopies give. The technique contributed to the overall nostalgic impression. I do not dislike nostalgic photos, but I would prefer something which foresees the 21st century. I look forward to seeing such positive works next time.
Makoto Shiina
This is the first time I’ve been on the screening committee of a photography competition. I was surprised that the entrants are so young. That there are so many women also astonished me. I feel that the world of photography is really into the new generation(or, I should say, new cosmos). I wonder if it is the influence of Mr. Araki, one of the judges, that has caused so many serial works of radical pictures. It was worth looking at them because many of them expressed their feelings well without holding back. Both men and women today are too narcissistic sometimes, and that puts me off a little. In Particular, some photos by young men make me want to scold them, but I guess it is their power. There are trends: one is a series of personal stories told with indoor photographs, and the other uses color photo copies. When there are so many pictures conforming to these trends, it comes out as being conventional and “playing it safe.” As a result, there were few outstanding works. But it was a fun experience.
