IF

Hiding feelings. A game with reality in which the ones who lose then win. Losing to the fear of shame, solitude and uncertainty hoping to be liked, to be accepted, to fulfil the expectations. And there, between the lines, silence. A soothing protection that sweep all the dirt under the rug. Or behind a mask, a costume. It works. But some people may sense a flaw, a subtle paradox in the system. Some may want to lower the apparent control of their own rational self. What then? In the Japanese society there is usually little space for spontaneous emotional display and for sharing feelings outside the most inner private circle. In my experience, the adult Japanese who venture beyond their safest comfort zone are either a considerable minority or they rarely do that. As a stranger living in Japan and walking its streets since three years ago, I have come to realise that these particular aspects, these fractions of the whole, are key elements to better understand and appreciate this somehow elusive society. But these candid images are not meant to be a detached, rational and judgemental representation of an unfamiliar social context. Instead, they try to be an allusive, intimate, instinctive and open-minded visual perception of what I feel and experience while sharing my life with the people around me. People I respect and admire. And although these pictures have all been taken in Japan and they are not the result of a story or idea I had in mind, my hope with them is to connect a specific context level with a more universal one. To allow the viewer to empathise with doubts and desires deeply rooted in our very human nature. Technical Note: Editing done under warm white LED light on an antiglare screen (Brightness 90 / Contrast 60 / Colour Temperature 7000K / Gamma 2.2)