2012 marks the 22nd year since the inauguration of New Cosmos of Photography. From the 20th through to the 21st century, New Cosmos of Photography has highlighted a great number of photographers, who have been successful inside and outside Japan. From now on it will continue to put the spotlight on the next generation of photographer. In 2012, we welcome three photographers with New Cosmos of Photography award experience (Katsumi Omori, Masafumi Sanai, and HIROMIX) and two art and photo critics (Noi Sawaragi and Minoru Shimizu).
Katsumi Omori
Photographer. Born in Tokyo, 1963.
Selected by two judges Robert Frank and Kotaro Iizawa to receive the Excellence Award in the New Cosmos of Photography 1994 (the 9th competition).
He has mainly produced photo books such as “salsa gum tape” (1998 Little More Co., Ltd.), “encounter” (2005 match and company, inc.), and “Bonjour” (2010 match and company, inc.). His latest work from the spring of 2011, when he followed the blossoming of cherry trees from Tokyo to Fukushima, is “Everything happens for the first time” (photo exhibition at POLA MUSEUM ANNEX, and a photo book by match and company).
Masafumi Sanai
Photographer. New Cosmos of Photography 1995 (the 12th competition) Excellence Award winner.
Already leading a generation of photographers, he has published many photo books. His 2002 photo book “MAP” won the 28th Kimura Ihei Commemorative Photography Award. In 2008, he started his own photo book imprint TAISHOU, and in March 2012 he released “Rarry,” his twelfth photo book, and he continues to be very active.
Noi Sawaragi
Art critic. His first collection of criticisms published in 1991, “Simulationism,” shed light on the cultural movements of the 1990s and generated considerable controversy. His important work “Japan/Modernity/Art” characterized postwar Japan as “a bad place,” and redefined Japan’s art history and art criticism from the bottom up. He also wrote “World Wars and World Fairs,” a critical reassessment of the 1970 Osaka World Fair, and numerous other works. In recent years, he has been involved in a reevaluation of Taro Okamoto and a reconsideration of war record paintings.
Currently, he is a professor at Tama Art University, General Education, Faculty of Art and Design.
Minoru Shimizu
Photo critic. Since 1995, Shimizu’s work as a critic has involved mainly contemporary art, photography, and music.
In 1995, he received the 1st Koen Shigemori Award for Photography Criticism for “The Photographic Invisible: James Welling.”
His main translations are “Gerhard Richter: Photo Essay/Picture Essay” (1996 Tankosha Publishing Co. , Ltd.), and “Karlheinz Stockhausen: Texte zur elektronischen und instrumentalen Musik Band 1963” (1999 Gendaishichoshinsha Co., Ltd.).
Among his books are “Photos in Black and White...” (2004), “Photos and Every Day” (2006), “Everyday Ordinary Photos” (2009), and “Pluramon” (2011, which were all published by Gendaishichoshinsha Co., Ltd.).
At present, he is a professor at Doshisha University.
HIROMIX
Photographer. After graduating from high school, she entered "SEVENTEEN GIRL DAYS” at the New Cosmos of Photography 1995 exhibition and received the Grand Prize award. Her photo book “GIRLS BLUE” (1996) sold exceptionally well, and the girly photo fad had a major impact on subsequent photo expression.
Her 2001 photo book “HIROMIX WORKS” won the 26th Kimura Ihei Commemorative Photography Award.
“Early Spring, Brighten of Your Mind” exhibition (2009 at hiromiyoshii gallery) and many others.
