5+ Single Photo Category

The mask&kimono project is collaborated with Japanese molding artist Shohei Yamashita. Noh is the oldest of Japan's theatrical arts. It is a comprehensive art form, embodying not only music, dance and literary art, but also sculpture, dyeing and weaving, and construction arts. Covering the face with a mask is much like wearing makeup. However, the noh mask has a certain power inherent in which makes it much more spiritual than a prop used to change ones appearance. Inspired with Noh, we issue modern diseases caused by "Honne and Tatemae" cultures in stressful society. Honne means “the truth” or “someone’s real opinion” . Tatemae means “the party line” or “what someone thinks you want to hear. To prevent conflicts and smooth human relationships, Japanese are trained to hide "honne". Instead, we communicate with "Tatemae". For example, shooting maternity photos is very common in Japan. In the pictures, every pregnant woman is full-smiling. On the other hand, our childcare security systems are problematic so that their "Honne" are very complicated. Not only women but also men are with heads between their hands. Because they are forced to work for long-hours in competitive society, depression is recognized as a social issue.