(© Zeeloot)
In collaboration with Camera Japan Festival I will have my first major exhibition. Camera Japan will be organized for the 13th time and the theme for this unlucky number is the superstitious, spirits and Yokai (Japanese mythological creatures). When we had our first meeting about my street photography in combination with the festival I was asked if I could combine my street photography with this theme. The superstitious, spirits and Yokai and street photography, I was like how is this gonna be possible. I had a good thought about it and I came to the conclusion that the superstitious, spirits and Yokai is a way to escape from reality for a bit. Escape from the normal routine of life, from the stress of life ect.
During my travels through Tokyo I saw many moments of people trying to escape from reality, sometimes for a brief moment and sometimes as a way of life. Tokyo can be high-pace and high-pressure city that demands a lot of it’s people. So during rush hour for example you see a lot of people trying to seclude themselves from the masses for a bit. People with their heads into their phones. People wearing surgical masks with headphones on so they don’t have to speak with other people. Little moments of seclusion to escape from the harsh reality of inner city life. You also see a few people trying to escape from reality as a way of life and they go all out. For example a came across a grown up man that is dressed up like a lolita every weekend or a guy that brings a pet meetkat to Shibuya. And don’t forget the Rock-a-Billies of Tokyo. They rebel against society by rocking every Sunday afternoon in front of Yoyogi Park (check them out if you are in Tokyo because those guys rock!).
Here is a small selection of photos that will be exhibited at Camera Japan 2018. The exhibition Tokyo Seclusion will be from 27th till 30th of September at LantarenVenster, Rotterdam. I will be there most of the time so feel free to ask for me if you want a little chat about the photographs. More info about the festival can be found at: www.camerajapan.nl
