35°39'56.5"N 139°45’48.3”E
The Nakagin Capsule Tower Building, a pinnacle of Metabolism architecture, was completed in 1974. Kisho Kurokawa's visionary concept, a precursor to modern sustainability, envisioned a building that could adapt to societal changes by replacing only damaged or obsolete parts. This approach mirrored the organic evolution of a living organism over time, in contrast to the conventional practice of tearing down old structures and building new ones. Unfortunately, the Nakagin Capsule Tower succumbed to demolition in 2022 in the wave of the scrap-and-build trend.
Through the observation of Nakagin Capsule Tower, I am fascinated by the dynamic interplay between captured moments and the inexorable force of entropy. Photography serves as my medium to navigate the delicate balance between order and chaos. Each fragment frozen in time bears witness to the dichotomy of preservation and decay, acknowledging the inevitable transformations that unfold. The demise of the Nakagin Capsule Tower echoes the ephemeral nature of architectural marvels, prompting reflection on the impermanence inherent in all things.
Entropy, the inexorable tendency of systems towards disorder, takes on the role of a silent collaborator in my visual narrative. Through my lens I seek to capture the ephemeral beauty that materializes as structures crumble, colors fade and nature reasserts its dominance. The Nakagin Capsule Tower Building, immortalized in my photographs, stands as a testament to the fleeting essence of existence - a choreography that oscillates between creation and dissolution.
In my photographic explorations, I strive to capture and preserve not only the artistic appeal, but also the historical significance embedded within the photographic subject. Through the lens, I aim to immortalize the architectural details and structures of the building that are destined to be lost, thereby preserving the rich tapestry of history and cultural heritage woven into our built environment. This endeavor is a testament to my commitment to ensuring that future generations can both appreciate and understand the past.
The Nakagin Capsule Tower building, now a relic of the past, finds its eternal refuge within the confines of what I call the "mother's womb" - the darkroom. In this sacred space, the essence of the building is transformed into visual poetry, allowing its architectural grandeur and historical significance to stand the test of time. Through the alchemy of photography, the Nakagin Capsule Tower becomes more than a memory; it becomes a tangible legacy that invites contemplation and connection across generations.
Untitled(Concept of Wabi-sabi)
Experimenting with the Japanese aesthetic concept of wabi-sabi, the photographic eyecrystallizes decaying objects, weathered surfaces, or aging landscapes serendipitouslyfound on the streets of Tokyo to capture fleeting moments and the beauty ofimperfection. In photographs, this can be achieved through the use of minimalistcompositions and a restrained color palette; the textures, patterns, and uniquecharacter that emerge from weathered surfaces, rust, or peeling paint evoke a sense ofappreciation for the ephemeral nature of life, capturing decay, the passage of time, anda sense of impermanence. By removing unnecessary elements, the images embody theessence of the subject and convey a sense of tranquility to the viewer.
The oeuvre is not about achieving perfection; but celebrating the beauty found inimperfection, impermanence, and the simplicity of life, searching for small details,mundane objects, or overlooked scenes that possess a certain charm or uniqueness. Byapplying these principles to street photography in Tokyo, I am able to create imagesthat convey the essence of wabi-sabi and tell stories of the unique aesthetics that lurkthroughout the city of Tokyo.
Cryptomnesia
In the chiaroscuro of the darkroom, I confront the persistent specter of mortality, capturing glimpses of life's impermanence through the lens of my camera. Negative film of animal carcass becomes a visual memento mori, extracted from the landscapes encountered during my wanderings. Yet, as I navigate the interplay between the shooting and printing processes, a profound différance unveils itself―a temporal and existential delay that lingers between the act of shooting and the act of printing.
The dichotomy between shooting and printing becomes a philosophical inquiry into the nature of reality. Is the true representation of existence to be found in the frozen moment etched into the negative, or is it to be found in the transformative alchemy of light and chemistry within the print? The answer remains elusive, existing in the interstitial space of différance, where time and interpretation intersect and intertwine.
The darkroom, as my artistic crucible, becomes a sanctuary where delay is manifested as a contemplative pause. Here, the frozen moment in the negative undergoes a metamorphosis that transcends the boundaries of mere documentation. The emerging compositions in the prints bear the marks of artistic interpretation - a unique expression of the différance between the moment captured and its eventual manifestation.
In this artistic pursuit, the contrast between the process of shooting and printing becomes a catalyst for profound inquiries into the nature of the original and the copy. The différance, as a meditative threshold, prompts viewers to contemplate the fluidity of perception and the inherent subjectivity of representation. Beyond the binary distinctions of originality and replication, the oeuvre seeks not only to capture the essence of mortality, but also to engage with the nuances of time and interpretation, where the true nature of reality eludes definition and resides in the ever-shifting interplay of shadow and light.
