The 10th Exhibition of New Cosmos of Photography 2001
Report on the open-selection meetings
Public selection : Dec.8.2001(SAT)
The exhibition “New Cosmos of Photography 2001” was held at Modapolitica in Aoyama, Tokyo. On the first day, December 8, there was an open-selection meeting of the judges, Nobuyoshi Araki, Kotaro Iizawa, Fumio Nanjo, Tsunehisa Kimura, and Kyoichi Tsuzuki. Excellent award winners in the 23rd and 24th open contests gave presentations, and talked about their works and photography. Momo Shinzawa and Hiroyuki Nakanishi won special prizes. Miyuki Kasai, Satomi Obara, and TAO won incentive prizes for their good works.
Overall Evaluation
At the 10th open-selection meeting of “New Cosmos of Photography,” the winning works of the 23rd and 24th contests were evaluated.
Overview of the 23rd selection
Nobuyoshi Araki
There are so many good works this time. The applicants have matured. They’ve got a feeling that “if it’s fun, it will do.” This kind of aesthetic sense reflects the trend of the times. Having a camera and taking pictures makes their lives enjoyable, and that’s wonderful. Photography is making everyone happy. One can find something in everyday nothing. I’ve talked about the blessing of taking pictures of ordinary things, and there is a relationship between the number of pictures and taking pictures of ordinary things. I recommend not to think about photography too seriously, but just do it. Everything starts from there. In a positive sense, it is time to practice and get trained. I think they all know that photography means to mind your own business. I notice that the number of specific pictures has increased-they are between landscape and scenery, and their charm is subtle. The overall level is going up a great deal. The number of awards for excellent work seem not to be sufficient. At the same time, these works are still ordinary rather than fine.
Kotaro Iizawa
It is tiring to look through books of pictures. Some entrants turn in as many as ten books, and I feel a little disgusted. As I have repeatedly advised, quantity can’t replace quality. First of all, entrants should select their works. If they are unable to select them, it indicates that they have no talent. It is my wish to see more conceptually integrated cool works.
Fumio Nanjo
There are great number of entries in the competition this time, but they have given me the impression that there is little variation. Many pictures are personal and of everyday, ordinary life. This phenomenon might be unavoidable, but I would expect something different. Also I saw many snapshots, in which a photographer’s friend, girlfriend or boyfriend is photographed while traveling together. I would advise against that, because it is difficult to make it into a work of art. I believe that photographs taken unintentionally while traveling could not be of high quality. In respect to the techniques that have been applied, the use of printers and computers is ubiquitous, as well as the arrangement of album-style collections and large works. In my opinion, photography plays a role as a medium mediating between reality and how reality is perceived. Thus, real surroundings are more strongly emphasized in photography than other means or media of expression. Photography reflects not only the reality of everyday surroundings but also how it is viewed in relation to world reality. In that sense, I find Sawako Yoshioka’s work representing how a totally different world is developing or expanding, and where Japan is positioned in that expansion. In other words, she shows us how “here I am” is related to the world. I believe that it is a role of photography to suggest that kind of relationship. In this respect, reality must have a variety of patterns, and they should be expressed. On the whole, it’s a pity to see one similar pattern.
Tsunehisa kimura
Photography provides us with a great stage to show how wonderful humans are. People are versatile, but mere variations among photographs does not interest viewers. A photographer takes a picture twice with his camera. For the first shot, it is not he but his camera lens that is actually photographing. If that is all he does, he is no more than a lens-man. Any person, child, or adult, is able to become a lens-man. Going beyond seeing through the lens, he should be conscious of what he wants to express, choose what to photograph and give meaning. What is important is to perceive and think on his own. He has to use his brain to perceive the subject and have its picture in his mind. Then he is worth being called a photographer. Only pressing the shutter release as planned is what a lens-man does. The above considered, I think that many entries in this competition are lens-man’s works. I would like to advise them to reexamine the images in their minds with their sense for expression, and thinking carefully how to picture them. Looking at the presented works, I strongly feel that the creation of one’s “icon” in photographs is starting to become a trend. Now, we are inquiring into the meaning of “icon” in everyday life or ordinary scenes. An icon originally meant “a holy picture,” that is, a symbol of people who worked for god. In short, it described someone who is important to society. In other words, in our times something like “a holy image” is desired. That Tokyo is called a city of girls suggests a new desire for icons, such as gangro(dark-painted face) or kosu-pure(costume play, to dress up like a popular character or a certain occupation). I believe that photographs show us how wonderful humans are. With future in-depth examinations, I find many works inquiring about the meaning of photographs. They are trying to find a new icon, and that seems to be the key word for their expressions. Therefore, my viewpoint is to discover such an awakening. To select fine works with such a criteria and those that are distinct in their expressions, I based my judgment on the concept of icons this time.
Overview of the 24th selection
Nobuyoshi Araki
It seems to me that the entries this time show the direction of the future. That’s how the New Cosmos of Photography is. You should have a lively mind by becoming aware of your sensitivity. I don’t like to feel gloomy or depressed by looking at photographs. When we photograph, our sensitivity or feelings can find something interesting in ourselves. That’s why we are increasingly attracted by photography. It is difficult to express this kind of feeling in words. If you are in that state, you are on the right track. It means that you have your style, that is, enthusiasm to go on with it regardless of what others may say. As it is said, “fact is stranger than fiction,” and some works are remarkable. Their titles are also thought-through. They are poetic and artistic.
Kotaro Iizawa
It is noticeable as a tendency among the entrants of New Cosmos of Photography Competition that they compose their works regarding “life” or “personal life” in a diary style. Such works have associations with the interplay between life and death that move us. When I see many similar works in front of me, however, I feel like saying, “That’s enough, “though it might not be an appropriate expression. What I want to say is that an ability to design or talent is required there.
Fumio Nanjo
The number of entries keeps increasing, and now few entrants try to compete with a single item. What they aim to do with a number of works is to make the context behind them surface. I agree with that approach, because, in judging works, I understand that they have not been made by chance but with different intentions. The atmosphere of each work seems to be more diversified than before. There used to be many works related to personal life or the nude, but now the ideas are in wider range and variously developed. Generally speaking, today’s applicants perform with more advanced techniques. Each print is done carefully. Also, albums of poor taste and amateurish approach have decreased, and there are professionally made albums, which are suitable for presentation. As usual, many of the themes are related to the photographer’s personal life. What is important here is to seize a drama in an ordinary life, or to have an eye for doing it. On the other hand, a conceptual approach is increasing. To cut out different phases of the world from a fixed viewpoint in a continuing process helps create an excitingly interesting series. If that point of view is full of significance and capable of great development, it will mean the advent of an important methodology. Thus, the job of screening has become an exciting event to me.
Kyoichi Tsuzuki
No one is interested in your personal life, or wants to see pictures of your journey of self-search, your cute girlfriend, your grandmother’s death, and much less your wedding. What do you have to do to entice them to come into your photo world? You should think over that point. They could be excellent skills, outstanding objects, depth of thoughts, etc. It is where professionalism makes a difference. Today I saw many pictures, but frankly speaking, I felt uncomfortable many times as if I had to listen to the recitation of Mitsuru 326 poems close to my ears for hours, tied up on a chair. Anyhow, persuasive powers emerge only when you take your pursuit to the extreme.
