Shinryo Saeki “h s w !” | 2001 Excellence Award winning work

ARTIST STATEMENT

h s w !

Two years ago I had my room remodeled into a gallery and cafe open to people. It provided me with an opportunity to take photographs of the visitors. Because of these daily encounters with people in my living space, I felt as if I was traveling at home, and I had a very good time. I regard my life as a long journey. Whether it is taking a leisurely rest in my room or going out to buy a pack of cigarettes at a convenience store, it is a part of my journey. Pressing the shutter of my camera is also in my journey. I take pictures when I want to, and don’t photograph when I don’t want to. A picture taken as an extension of my senses reveals something as it is. I would like to create images that are just like an atmosphere, in which shutter-clicks sound like a BGM.I will continue my journey, and go to a distant place soon. Before going there, I have collected my memories in this booklet, thanking all the people I saw through the viewfinder.

Selecting judge: Kotaro Iizawa

Books with many pictures mounted are sent to me. Few of them are attractive or powerful enough to keep me looking through them to the end. Saeki’s “h s w!” is excellently compiled with a fine layout, and I enjoyed turning over the pages. Although there are pictures of dangerous people and scenes, his attitude to photography is relevant, and I see something sophisticated in his work. As he is still young, he could be a little more challenging. I wonder if he knows of “Case History” by the Ukrainian photographer Boris Mikirov. If not, I would recommend him to see it.