Shigeru Yoshida ⁄ 吉田繁
Profile
He had been pursuing a career as a commercial and magazine photographer in Japan for about 20 years. In 2011, a huge earthquake along with a massive tsunami disaster hit Northern Japan. He visited the affected areas and came across a lot of affected local area residents praying. From this inspiring scene, he decided to create these photography projects in order to send a peaceful message to the world. Prayer gives us peace and calm and hope for living to many people. He has been continuing his effort to make a positive impact in our world through his photography ever since.
He have been focusing the heart of prayer.
He has been trying to build a meaningful bridge with different countries and carries on today around the world.
Exhibitions
・Aug. 2013, solo exhibition at Lumiere Brothers Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
・Oct. 2014, invited "International Photo Festival'PHOTOVISA'in Krasnodar, Russia.
・Jul. 2017, invited "International Photo Festival'PHOTO FEST'in Astana, Kazakhstan".
・Apr. 2019, group exhibition at the BID Art Space/ Pesaro, Italy.
・Apr. 2019, group exhibition at NOVOSIBIRSK INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY in Russia
・Jun. 2019, solo exhibition at State Museum of Southern Ural in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
・Oct. 2019, group exhibition at SHATTO GALLERY in Los Angeles, U.S.A.
・Nov. 2019, solo exhibition at Timiryazev State Museum in Moscow, Russia.
・Jan. 2021, solo exhibition at The State of Darwin Museum in Moscow, Russia.
・Feb. 2022, solo exhibition at White Gallery in Novosibirsk, Russia.
・Nov. 2022, solo exhibition at National Historical Museum in Bishkek Kyrgyz Republic.
・Nov. 2022, solo exhibition at The Almaty Gallery in Almaty Kazakhstan.
・Nov. 2022, solo exhibition at The National Art Museum of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.
・Aug. 2023, solo exhibition at The Museum OF Nature And Man, in Khanty - Mansiysk, Russia.
Collection
・Museuma of Fotographic Arts, in San Diego USA
・Ploshchad Mira museum, in Siberia Russia
・The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, in Moscow Russia
およそ20年に亘り、商業写真・雑誌などで写真家として活動。2011年の東日本大震災の後、被災地で多くの人が祈っているシーンに遭遇して、写真家として何かできることはないかと考え、創作を開始。世界中に日本人の祈りの心を届けたいと思いました。 祈りは人々に、心の平和と静けさを、そして、生きる勇気を与えてくれます。2013年からモスクワ、ルミエールブラザースギャラリーの契約作家として契約。以後、2014年には、ロシアの国際写真祭"PHOTO VISA"の招待作家として現地にて写真展、講演を実施。2017年にはカザフスタン、国際写真祭"PHOTO FEST”の招待作家として現地を訪問。2019年はモスクワの美術館での個展と写真で国際交流を図り、貢献することを目指しています。
Projects
Through my visits to the disaster-stricken areas following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, I witnessed many people praying towards the sea, which deprived a lot of lives.
And I think The world is going throug a lot of divisiveness rignt now, terrorist attacks occur in many places,too.
There is a full of sad stories in the world.
Every Project focus on the portray inside prayer, and the purpose of project is sending positive impact on the world.
I am making 4 projects.
Praying brings our minds tranquility and peace.
I want to make a beautiful bridge to countries and each other.
I cannot rebuild the life of survivors or affected peoples.
But I can cast a small stone into the waters and create many ripples.
My stone is this project.
I am trying to express the hidden energy of prayer in my photographs.
2011年の東日本大震災の後、多くの人が海に向かって祈っているシーンを目の当たりにしました。それは海が津波によって多くの命を奪ったからでした。 世界でも多くの場所でテロによる死傷者が出ています。命が奪われる悲しい出来事があると、そこには同時にそれを悼む祈りもあります。私のつくっている4つのプロジェクトは祈りの内面にフォーカスしたものです。その目的は心の動きがポジティブに変わるようなメッセージを送ること。
祈りは心に静けさと平和をもたらします。私は対立するもの同士に、あるいは被災して孤独を抱えている人に架け橋を作りたい。もちろん、被災者の生活を私の写真で再度作り上げることはできません。しかし、私は小さな石ころを川面に投げることはできると思っています。その石はたくさんの波紋を作るでしょう。この石が僕のプロジェクトです。私の写真を通して、祈りの隠れた力を表したいのです。
Message from Fukushima(2021 - )
"Embracing Despair, Discovering Peace"
福島からの伝言
-それでも私たちは前向きに生きる-
It has been 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, which caused damage from the massive tsunami and evacuation from the nuclear power plant accident at the same time.
Some of the victims are trying to move forward with their lives in a positive manner despite the many difficulties and suffering they are facing. I felt that their stories of hope for tomorrow, and the way they talked about it, could give courage and hope to a large number of people.
巨大な津波の被害と同時に原発事故からの避難という大震災から10年が経過しました。
被災者の方々は、多くの困難や苦しみを抱えながら前向きに人生を前進させようとしている方がいます。彼らが語る明日への希望、そしてその姿には、大くの人々に勇気や希望を与えることができると感じました。
・Media Size: 594x420mm(23.4x16.5 inch), Image Size: 390x390mm(15.3x15.3 inch)/ Edition:10
・Media: Photo rag paper
・Number of worksː 30
・Project progressː Ongoing
プロジェクト"Message from FUKUSHIMA"
Message from FUKUSHIMA ーA decade has passed, and we are living in hopeー
Russia Ver.
夫婦の願いが込められた[飯舘復興三千本桜] / 3000 cherry trees in Fukushima
Sea Wall - hope and despair - (2019- )
In 2011 Japan was devastated by a massive tsunami disaster, killing about 20,000 people and displacing hundreds of thousands more.
After that, the Japanese Government has been building a very high and extremely long sea wall to prevent future tsunami disasters.
Average height is about 15m and the wall will be 400 km long when finished. Local people can no longer see the beautiful ocean scenery.
Government has chosen to combat nature with human-made barriers.
But the local people want to live with nature.Grief changes shape, but it never ends.
But every day we strive to embrace a hopeful, peaceful life.
This sea wall might be the symbol of hope or despair – depending on your point of view.
2011年の東日本大震災の後、国と地方自治体は最大で、高さ約15m、長さ400kmの防潮堤を造った。海に生きる漁民が「美しい海が見えない」「観光客が来なくなる」と嘆く一方で、「安心して暮らせる」という人もいる。政府は自然と戦うことを決めたが、現地の人々は自然とともに生きている。悲しみは形を変えて終わることがない。防潮堤は希望のシンボルなのか絶望のシンボルなのか、それは見方によるのだ。
・Media Size: 420x594mm(16.5x23.4inch),image size:337x500mm(13.2x19.6inch),Edition:10
・Media Size: 329x483mm(13x19inch),image size:276.4x410mm(10.9x16.1inch),Edition:15
・Media: Hand made coated paper
・Number of worksː 39
・Project progressː Ongoing
Sea Wall(2019-01)
Sea Wall(2019-03)
Sea Wall(2019-09)
Sea Wall(2019-11)
Sea Wall(2020-08)
Sea Wall(2019-09)
Sea Wall(2020-11)
Sea Wall(2019-14)
Sea Wall(2020-15)
Sea Wall(2020-16)
Sea Wall(2020-19)
Sea Wall(2020-21)
Ten yeara since Fukushima Vol.1
Ten yeara since Fukushima Vol.2
The Sea Wall - Hope and despair -
One Minute
- Border for a Prayer (2012-2022)
In March 2011, Japan experienced a big disaster, the Great East Japan Earthquake. Through my visits to the disaster-stricken areas, I witnessed many people praying towards the sea. And that inspired me to start this project devoted to prayer.
2011年、日本は東日本大震災に見舞われた。被災地をたずねると、多くの人々が海に向かって祈っていた。このことに、触発され、祈りに注目したプロジェクトを始めた。
・Media Size: 420x594mm(16.5x23.4inch),image size:520 x347mm(20.47 x 13.66inch),Edition:10
・Media Size: 329x483mm(13x19inch),image size:267x400mm(10.51x15.74inch),Edition:15
・Media: Fresco Type Print
・Number of worksː 80
・Project progressː Ongoing
Border for a Prayer (2015-01)
Border for a Prayer (2015-03)
Border for a Prayer (2015-05)
Border for a Prayer (2014-02)
Border for a Prayer (2014-06)
Border for a Prayer (2014-22)
Border for a Prayer (2013-01)
Border for a Prayer (2013-06)
Border for a Prayer (2013-15)
Border for a Prayer (2013-19)
Border for a Prayer (2012-02)
Border for a Prayer (2012-10)
Border for a prayer
The Sacred Trees
When I first encountered a large tree, I was overwhelmed by its size. However, I was simply astonished by its size and shape. But after a while, when I began to feel that it was not a "tree" but "life," my heart was transformed into a feeling of gratitude toward nature. It was a very happy feeling. At that moment, I decided to continue photographing these sacred big trees.
大きな木に初めて出会ったときは、その大きさに圧倒されていました。しかし、それは単純にその大きさや形に驚愕していただけでした。しかし、しばらくすると、それは「木」ではなく「命」だということを感じるようになったとき、私の心は自然に対して感謝する気持ちに変わりました。それはとても幸福感のある気持ちでした。そのとき、この撮影を続けようと決心しました
・Media Size: 420x594mm(16.5x23.4inch),image size:344x430mm(13.5x16.9inch),Edition:10
・Media Size: 329x483mm(13x19inch),image size:256x320mm(10x12.6inch),Edition:10
・Media: Hand made coated paper
・Number of worksː 300
・Project progressː Ongoing
Baobabu in Madagasucar
Yew tree in UK
Bristlecone pine in CA
Beech tree in Germany
Cedar called Jomon cedar in Japan
Castanopsis in Shoumyouji
Youkai No Kuni (2017 - )
Since ancient times, “Yōkai”, a class of supernatural beings in Japanese folklore, have been used in Japanese festivals to display the manifestation of deities on earth. They symbolize the good and evil within our hearts.”
妖怪は、古代以来、日本の民間伝承に存在する。主に祭りに利用され、この世に現れたもののけとして存在する。彼らは、我々の心の中に悪魔と天使が住んでいることを象徴化している。
・Media Size: 420x594mm(16.5x23.4inch),image size:344x430mm(13.5x16.9inch),Edition:10
・Media Size: 329x483mm(13x19inch),image size:256x320mm(10x12.6inch),Edition:10
・Media: Hand made coated paper
・Number of worksː 38
・Project progressː Ongoing
Youkai no kuni (2017-01)
Youkai no kuni (2017-02)
Youkai no kuni (2017-03)
Youkai no kuni (2017-12)
Youkai no kuni (2017-13)
Youkai no kuni (2017-16)
Youkai no kuni (2017-18)
Youkai no kuni (2017-19)
Youkai no kuni (2017-20)
Youkai no kuni (2018-04)
Youkai no kuni (2019-09)
Youkai no kuni (2018-07)
Valley of Memory (2015 - )
Fire prayers have been used in Japanese festivals since ancient times. The veneration of our ancestors puts our minds at ease with the knowledge that they are watching over us and guiding us. Fire is the beginning and the end of all natural scenery.
古代より、日本の祭事では火が祈りのために使われてきた。先祖への畏敬の念は、祈りの中で彼らが私たちを見守り、導いてくれるという気持ちを持つことにより、心に平安をもたらす。火は全ての自然界の始まりであり終わりなのである。
・Media Size: 420x594mm(16.5x23.4inch),image size:520x347 mm (20.47 x 13.66inch), Edition:15
・Media Size: 329x483mm(13x19inch),image size:267x400mm(10.5x15.7inch), Edition:15
・Media: Hand made washi paper
・Number of worksː 11
・Project progressː finished
Valley of Memory (2015-01)
Valley of Memory (2015-02)
Valley of Memory (2015-03)
Valley of Memory (2015-05)
Valley of Memory (2015-10)
Valley of Memory (2015-10)
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