2013 marks the 23rd year since the inauguration of New Cosmos of Photography. During the transition from the 20th to the 21st century, the New Cosmos of Photography drew attention to a great number of photographers who have enjoyed great success inside and outside Japan. And, from now, it will showcase the next generation of photographers. In 2013, 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 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). His photo books include “salsa gum tape” (1998 Little More Co., Ltd.), “encounter” (2005 match and company, inc.), “Sanayora “(2006 Aiikusha Co., Ltd.), “Bonjour” (2010 match and company, inc.), and “Everything happens for the first time” (match and company, inc.).
Masafumi Sanai
Photographer. New Cosmos of Photography 1995 (the 12th competition) Excellence Award winner.
Always a leader of his 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 July 2012 he released “Dokuso,” his thirteenth photo book, and remains 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 and photography, and contemporary music.
In 1995, he received the 1st Koen Shigemori Award for Photography Criticism for “The Photographic Invisible: James Welling.”
His major works of translation 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), “Pluramon” (2011, 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 was awarded the Grand Prize.
Her photo book “
GIRLS BLUE” (1996) sold exceptionally well, driving the girly photo fad and had a major impact on the forms of photo expression that followed.
Her 2001 photo book “
HIROMIX WORKS” received the 26th Kimura Ihei Commemorative Photography Award.
In 2009, she held an exhibition titled “Early Spring, Brighten of Your Mind,” and made a short film titled “How Splendid You Are” along with various other works.
