Tomoko Sawada is featured in ICP New York's group show Heavy Light: Recent Photography and Video from Japan open until September 7, 2008.
I love how Tomoko Sawada uses photography to explore the notion of self identity - especially within the framework of Japanese society which is known for their precision in mimicking other cultures.
Here's an insightful quote from the Artkrush interview with Tomoko Sawada:
"The peculiar nature of photography is that it copies reality, but also can't copy reality."
Tomoko is from Japan's Kansai district which in my Buddhist practice is known for the strong spirit of its residents and their ability to always win in any situation. I love this quote from the interview which speaks to both the victorious Kansai spirit and Tomoko's early influences:
"My high-school art teacher was the contemporary artist Noboru Tsubaki, and he once said to the class, 'Transform difficult things, sad things, and painful things into pop!' That approach really meshes with my personality."
PHOTO: Tomoko Sawada
Decoration (12), 2007
C-print mounted on Plexiglas
39 1/2 x 27 1/2 in./ 100 x 75 cm
Courtesy Zabriskie Gallery, New York
All Rights ReservedLabels: contemporary photography, japanese photography
