Hasumi Hiroaki and a flower arrangement artist Ishizuka Mitsue collaborated on their art to express “a waterfall at the end of a path through the forest”. Their fruitful collaboration made the space beautiful and Hasumi couldn’t have been achieved through only photography itself.
蓮見浩明さんと石塚洸枝さんのコラボは「森を抜けて行った先にある滝」を表現しました。写真だけではできなかった空間表現が見事に結実していました。

Sato Motoko who made her artwork in cyanotype, dyed cloth with branches and flowers that she borrowed from Ishizuka. She asked Ishizuka to use it for her arrangement. Their collaboration on the artwork became the best part of the exhibition.
サイアノタイプ(青く発色する古典技法)の作品を展示した佐藤素子さんは石塚さんから借りた枝や花で布を染め、それを石塚さんに使って表現してもらうというコラボレーションの真骨頂ともいえるものでした。

Sasaki Koji created his artwork using the photos that his smartphone in his pocket had accidentally taken pictures on its own. The object was set in front of his unique artwork and they were integrated into one. It was such an amazing space.
佐々木浩二さんはポケットの中のスマホが勝手に撮影していた画像がモチーフ。ユニークな作品の前に設られたオブジェと一体化して不思議な雰囲気を漂わせていました。

We are wondering how much war has a significant negative impact on children. We have to face this matter seriously and Yoshida Shigeru borrowed drawings of children in Ukraine and exhibited them at our exhibition. Before the war, all drawings were drawn in bright colors but they turned dark and sad after the war occurred. Both have the power to strike our hearts.
戦争は子どもの心にどれほどの悪影響を及ぼしているのか。改めてそのことにを向き合おうと吉田繁先生が戦前と戦後の子どもたちの絵を借りてきて展示しました。戦前の絵は明るく、戦後は暗く悲しい。どちらも心打たれる力強さを持っていました。

On the other side of children’s drawings, pictures of people in Fukushima were exhibited. They are selected from Yoshida’s photo project. He took pictures of people in Fukushima who got over the Fukushima nuclear accident and they stayed active and positive. The nuclear accident occurred in both Fukushima and Ukraine. Since the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, people in both cities have developed a strong relationship.
子どもたちの絵と向かい合って展示されたのは福島原発事故を越えて今を前向きに生きる人々を撮影した吉田先生のプロジェクト。ウクライナも福島も原発事故を体験した土地柄。チェルノブイリ原発事故以来、互いに援助し合う結びつきが生まれています。

A museum, “Giant Potato Art Museum” in the Tokachi region in Hokkaido possesses those drawings of Ukraine. The museum was established by Asano Osamu, an over 80-year-old painter. We borrowed the drawings from the museum. They keep over 100,000 children’s paintings collected from 150 countries around the world.
ウクライナの子どもたちの絵を貸してくださったのは北海道十勝にある『巨大じゃがいもアート館』。80歳を超えた画家・浅野修さんが設立しました。ここには世界150カ国から集められた10万点以上の子どもの絵があります。

We showed our artworks to Andrey Martynov through online. He is a famous curator in Russia who organized various exhibitions in LA and Italy.
ロサンジェルスやイタリアなどさまざまな場所での展覧会を企画していただいてきたロシアのべテラン・キュレーター、アンドレイ(Andrey Martynov )さんにオンラインで作品を見ていただきました。

Andrey is all against the war. He was scheduled to come to Japan for us, although he was not allowed to enter and couldn’t make it to Japan, even for cultural exchange. However, he got our present, the Ukiyoe mosaic artwork in Seoul.
戦争には大反対で、六本木でのこのグループ展に合わせて来日する予定でしたが、韓国までは来れたものの文化交流という目的でも日本には入国できませんでしたが、浮世絵のモザイクアートはソウルで受け取っていただきました。

During the exhibition, presentations in English often begin abruptly. In the beginning, everyone seemed to be very frustrated but they became relaxed to talk in English. This is because they translate their artist statements by themselves and it helps them to speak out in English.
展覧会の開催中は突然のように英語でのプレゼンが始まることが多いです。当初はみんなバタバタと焦っていましたが、日頃からアーティスト・ステートメントの英訳をしているお陰でしょうか。最近はみんな余裕を持って話せるようになりました。

A curator living in San Francisco, Ann Trinca came over to our exhibition during her stay in Japan. This is the second time, following her first visit to us in September.
サンフランシスコ在住のキュレーター・アン(Ann Trinca)さんが日本滞在中に作品を見に来てくださいました。9月に続いて2度目です。

She is the one who named our exhibition “Seeing Spirit” for this time. The members who couldn’t join the review in September had a chance to show their artworks to her. They took turns to do the presentations in front of her.
今回の展覧会のタイトル”Seeing Spirit”をつけてくださった方です。9月の講評会に参加できなかったメンバーから順番にプレゼンしました。

During exhibitions like this, specialists visit to see the artworks from all over the world. Meeting them is a great stimulus for artists or photographers like us. Also, we were lucky to see them in Japan, which is a very valuable time for us.
展覧会中は海外からアート写真のスペシャリストの方が来場してくださるので、とてもいい刺激をいただいています。日本でお会いできるのですから貴重です。

We thank Yoshida Shigeru and other founder members of SAMURAI FOTO who have made a cultural bridge overseas. This is a great opportunity to get a portfolio review without going overseas. If we were on my own, it would never be possible to make a connection like this.
海外のポートフォリオレビューに行かずにレビューできるのはこれまでの吉田先生たちが架け橋をつくってきてくれたから。自分だけではつくれない縁です。

Ann is also a photographer, and she took a long time to see all the photographs in the venue. She said she enjoyed the exhibition and got good inspiration from us.
写真家でもあるアンさんは会場内の作品を時間をかけて見てくださっていました。「私もとてもいい刺激をもらったわ」と嬉しい言葉もいただきました。

Hasumi, a representative of SAMURAI FOTO, and Kanie worked hard behind the scenes to create as many opportunities for international exchange as possible for SAMURAI FOTO members.
できる限り、SAMURAI FOTOメンバーに国際交流の機会をつくりたいと、蓮見会長と蟹江さんも陰でいろいろと動いてくれてました。

Sato Motoko makes wonderful photo books by herself regularly. She gave a lecture on “How to make and enjoy a bookbinding” She folded paper in front of the viewers and showed how to make it simply.
日頃から素敵な手づくり写真集を製作している佐藤素子さんのセミナーは「製本の楽しみ」。実際に紙を折りながら、簡単な本作りについて紹介していました。

Hasumi, who has exhibited his artwork in museums, galleries, and festivals in North America, Europe, and Asia through his SAMURAI FOTO activities, shared his key to success with the audience.
SAMURAI FOTOの活動を通して北米、欧州、アジアでの美術館やギャラリー、フェスティバルなどで作品を発表している蓮見会長はその秘訣を公開しました。

A director, Kanie Setsuko is the only person who teaches how to write an artist statement in Japan. In the seminar, she talked about “The blueprint of the work is determined by the vision!”.
ディレクターの蟹江節子さんは日本で唯一、アーティスト・ステートメントについて教えています。今回は「作品の設計図はビジョンで決まる!」という内容。

Everett Brown, another director of SAMURAI FOTO, has been making his artworks with a classical technique called wet plate photography. He told the audience why he has chosen to use this technique that makes his artworks look like old photographs.
ディレクターのエバレット・ブラウンさんは湿板写真という古典技法で作品を制作してきました。昔の写真のように見える技法を選んだ理由を話してくれました。

Mitsue Ishizuka, a Sogetsu-style flower artist, talked about “Ikebana or flower arrangement that creates a comfortable relationship” and demonstrated flower arrangement at the seminar.
草月流華道家・石塚洸枝さんは「心地よい関係性を創り出すいけばな」について話しながら、実際に、いけばなのデモンスレーションを見せてくれました。

A lot of women came to Ishizuka’s seminar. The venue was more colorful with the Ikebana flowers.
石塚洸枝さんのセミナーにはたくさんの女性が来てくださいました。いけばなのお花とともに、会場は一層華やかな雰囲気になりました。

小泉あい子 / Aiko Koizumi
感覚の再生 / Regeneration of Senses

Her photographs were street snapshots of Tokyo. She took pictures from a certain distance from people and saw the city through glasses or something. Andrey complimented her artworks, saying “You have a youthful gaze!”
東京のストリート・スナップ。人々とは一定の距離をとってガラスや何かを介して街を眺めたプロジェクト。アンドレイさんは「視線が若い」と絶賛!

This is one of her photographs in which the faces of people walking outside are just hidden by the hanging flower vases. They are unique.
外を歩く人の顔がフラワーハンギングでちょうど隠れたユニークな作品。

Sasaki Kazuhiro / Birds of Peace
佐々木一弘 / Kazuhiro Sasaki
"Birds of Peace"

He suggests that we should think about environmental problems, wars, and other social issues through his artworks. He captured the appearance of wild birds flying in the sky.
大空を飛ぶ野鳥の姿を捉えて、環境問題や戦争などの現代社会の問題について考えるべき時ではないかと提案していました。

He says birds are beautiful creatures that avoid unnecessary conflict and pursue their passion for flight. They are a symbol of peace, says Sasaki.
鳥は無駄な争いを避け、飛ぶことへの情熱を追求する美しい生き物。彼らは平和の象徴ともいえると佐々木さん。

Sasaki Koj / Invisible Memory
佐々木浩二 / Koji Saåsaki

He created this artwork by shooting at high speed, shining the light on the instantaneous movement of water, which is invisible to the naked eye.
見えない記憶 / Invisible Memory
肉眼では見えない瞬間的な水の動きを光を当てて、高速で撮影することで表現した。

Answers in my pocket
This artwork expresses a chaotic and mysterious world. A camera function on his smartphone, which was in his pocket was active without him being aware of it and it took pictures by itself.
ボケットの答え / Answers in my pocket
ポケットに入れていたスマホが知らないうちに撮影していた混沌とした不思議な世界。

Sato Hiroyasu / Guide
佐藤裕保 / Hiroyasu Sato
道しるべ / Guide

The smoke of incense serves as a connection between this world and the spiritual world. He offers incense to the deceased parents every morning and feels and talks with his parents through the smoke.
線香の煙は現世と霊界を繋ぐもの。佐藤さんは毎朝、仏壇に線香をあげるが、煙を通じて亡き両親と会話するのだという。

The smoke from the incense is not only white, but also red, blue, yellow purple, and black. He believes that the color and shape of it is a signal of his or his ancestors’ emotions.
佐藤さんの線香の煙は白だけでなく、赤、青、黄、紫、黒などがあるが、煙の色や形は先祖や霊の喜怒哀楽を示すシグナルだそうです。

Motoko Sato/Windows, the Inward and Outward Gaze (2023)
佐藤素子 / Motoko Sato
窓、その内なる視線と外なる視線 (2023) / Windows, the Inward and Outward Gazes (2023)

She created two types of artworks using the cyanotype technique. One is printed on the two thin pieces of cloth layered on top of each other and the other one is printed on photo paper. The "window" is the boundary between the inside and the outside, and a place that connects both.
素子さんの作品はサイアノタイプ2種類。薄い布を2枚重ねにしたものと印画紙にプリントしたもの。「窓」は内と外の境目であり、内外を繋ぐところとだいう。

She exhibited a collaboration artwork with Ishizuka on the right side of her pictures. This cloth was also dyed by her. Ann also loved the idea
作品の右側には華道家の石塚さんとのコラボを展示。この布も素子さんが染めたもの。サンフランシスコのキュレーターAnnさんも気に入ってくださいました。

Chiyoda Michiko / Thin Ice
千代田路子 / Michiko Chiyoda
薄氷(うすらい) / Thin Ice

Many visitors say they feel as if they would be sucked into the air when they stand in front of the Covered Emplacement of the Ishiharadake Battery Site in Saikai City in Nagasaki.
長崎県西海市にある石原岳砲台跡の掩蔽堡塁（えんぺいほうるい）。この前に立つと吸い込まれそうという感想が多く聞かれました。

After moving to Nagasaki, Chiyoda began visiting war remains in the area, and started to use them for her artworks as motifs. This made her think about wars.
長崎に引っ越した千代田さんは周辺にある戦争遺構を訪れるようになり、それをモチーフにし始めました。戦争について考えるきっかけにもなっているという。

Masumoto Mariko / Life blood
升本真里子 / Mariko Masumoto
Life blood

She is known for her projects using waves as a motif. This time, she expressed the blood that bled into her eyes due to illness with waves in her photographs. She felt that it corresponded to the circulation of blood.
波をモチーフにしたプロジェクトで知られる升本さん。今回は病気で目の中に流れ出した血潮を波で表現。それは血液の循環とも呼応していると感じられたという。

Masumoto's wave project was especially popular among female visitors. This may be because they feel something that reaches their hearts in Masumoto’s artworks.
升本さんの波のプロジェクトはとくに女性の来場者に人気がありました。心に届く何かを表現できている証拠なのでしょうか。

Murata Koji / Spirits dwell in things
村田光司 / Koji Murata
思いは物に宿る / Spirots dwell in things

He says he can’t throw away things that he gave to his children. Looking at them, he realized that they were filled with his wishes for the healthy growth of his children.
子どもに贈った物は捨てることができないという村田さん。それを眺めることで気づかされたという。

Imagining that the objects are filled with a lot of emotions heals him and becomes a source of hope.
そこには「健やかに育ってほしい」という思いが込められている。物には思いが込められていると想像することで心が癒され、希望の源になったそうです。

Hasumi Hiroaki / Shape of Truth
蓮見浩明 / Hiroaki Hasumi
萬波一水 / Shape of Truth

When the world lost its light, he meditated in front of a waterfall and heard a voice from somewhere. The voice said, "Live as the flow goes."
世界が光を失ったとき、ある滝の前で瞑想していると「流れに逆らわずに生きなさい」という声を聞いたという。

He remembered the words of Zen, “Attempting to discover the truth on your own can be confusing but enlightenment is realized through the influence of the universe.” and started his journey to confront the waterfall and discover the truth of life.
「自から真理を悟ろうとするのが迷い。宇宙からの働きかけで悟らされるのが悟りである」という禅の言葉を思い出し、滝と対峙し人生の真理を解き明かす旅を始めたそうです。

Yoshida Shigeru / Messages from FUKUSHIMA
吉田繁 / Shigeru Yoshida
Messages from FUKUSHIMA

After the nuclear accident in Fukushima, many people were living in the hard lives. Some were forced to evacuate their homes and some had lost their loved ones by the tsunami. In Yoshida’s project, he expressed their words and aspects of who are now overcoming hardship and living positively in his photography.
福島の原発事故後、強制避難や津波で家族を亡くすなど辛い日々を超えて前向きに生きる人々の言葉と表情が吉田先生のプロジェクト

A photographer from Ukraine happened to visit the exhibition. Yoshida told her that this exhibition should have been held at the National Art Museum in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. She talked about how she was damaged by the war.
偶然にもウクライナからの写真家が来場された。吉田先生は「このプロジェクトはウクライナの首都キーフにある国立美術館で展示する予定でした」というと、彼女も戦争によって受けた被害を語ってくれました。

Everett Kennedy Brown
UMUI

Everett exhibited photos selected from his photo book, “UMUI”. He took all the photographs in Okinawa. Visitors thought them taken in the past at their first glance, not in the present.
沖縄で撮影されたエバレットさんの写真集『Umui』の中からの展示。初めて見た人は今撮られた写真ではなく、昔の写真だと思われるようです。

Kanie Setsuko / Seeing Spirit in Nature
She showed a short movie which she had worked for the exhibition in San Francisco.
蟹江節子 / Setsuko Kanie
Seeing spirit in nature
蟹江さんはサンフランシスコに向けた映像作品を上映。

This is a photo of “Ikebana”, which a flower arrangement artist Ishizuka demonstrated at the seminar. Many women took photos of it for their benefit use.
華道家・石塚洸枝さんがセミナーでデモンストレーションした「いけばな」。参考にしたいと写真を撮影する女性がたくさんいらっしゃいました。

00:00  蟹江節子 Setsuko Kanie / 映像作品 video work "SEEING SPIRIT IN NATURE"
05:05  蓮見浩明 Hiroaki Hasumi / Behind-the-scenes「萬波一水」
07:27   佐藤素子 Motoko Sato / Behind-the-scenes「その内なる視線と外なる視線」
10:42   村田光司 Koji Murata / Behind-the-scenes「思いは物に宿る」
13:00   升本真理子 Mariko Masumoto / Behind-the-scenes "LIFE BLOOD"