Why Photo

There is an article over in my Things blog about the reasons why I shoot.

“It’s like digging up these huge stones from the soil. You know, my father is a farmer, and he taught me how to clean up entire field from stones. Much like him, I am preparing my grave. He brought a shovel. I brought a camera.”
http://things.hiyayaakko.com/why-photo/

Going to Space

Going to space for me would be a milestone in my own journey, and in my spiritual growth. To see the beauty of this planet from outside it would be a breathtaking experience; not only in overcoming the physical and personal challenge, but also spiritually. Life is a huge cosmic journey itself and going to space would be a perfect visualisation of it.

I was separated from my mother when I was two years old. I want to experience that separation again, this time from mother earth; going to space would be like amazing personal movie for me.

I would refuse to ride a Nasa shuttle or rocket, but I wouldn’t mind riding Sir Richard’s vessel. Things must be done in right spirit ecologically, and Richard surely does just that. In any way, I strongly support Virgin Galactic, what they are doing is remarkable and extremely responsible. They might be a company but what they do is so much more.

What next?

(note for myself)

One of the common questions I’m asked during my exhibition is “what are you going to do next?”. I have given it a thought.

I’m going to clean up my work room. It’s a total chaos. I don’t mean like creative Einstein-like-chaos. I mean total-unfathomable-godcrazy-abyss-like-chaos. It’s going to take at least a week to restore the room into some kind of working order.

After that, I’ll sit a moment and have a cup of coffee.

Debriefing

You know sometimes things just fall in place naturally, you feel like you are auto-completing a puzzle; pieces just fit automatically and it’s a smooth ride from the start.

Well, making Maria was not one of those times. I had to cancel my exhibition once actually since my boy got a virus from his kindergarden. I had to give up months of work, just bite the bullet, and let it all vanish. I had just rented the frames, packed my works and shipped them to the gallery, then I got a call from my wife; “it’s a virus”. I knew it; to give up is the only way, abort mission, call the birds back, you know.

To my surprise, the gallery actually offered me four days from the following week, very kind of them. So I took the chance, although quite frankly, I was not in excellent mood.

The difficulties did not stop here however. In the following week while I was taking care of my feverish son, I caught a fever. 40C. I could barely get up on my feet. I knew if I let this chance pass, rest of the year for Maria is out of the question.

But I managed to make it on Sunday and with help of two important friends I could start the exhibition. Maria became a reality.

I learned something very important. It’s good to give up if you do it for the right reasons.

You have to be able to do it, because it’s never that serious or important. Sometimes it’s not just the right time; but then you also find out that the opportunity will come again. Like, when you receive gift from someone, it’s actually kind of really humbling, because all you can say is thanks. Thank you. What big and numerous gifts I received this time, not only beautiful flowers and cookies, but spiritually as well! Indeed, I want to say most humbly, “thank you”.

It’s always hard to do something like this but it really is worth of it, because of all the wonderful people who come to see my photos. It seems like Saint Maria was calling for them.. and then they wrote me these beautiful letters that made me cry.

It’s all big fun to start something and then finish it, plus, it’s great excuse to hang out with some really cool folks!

Exhibition schedule

I am sorry for the mistaken schedule in the flyer of my exhibition Maria.

The correct opening hours of my exhibition are following:

SUN (７日) 12:00 ~ 17:00
MON (8日) 9:30 ~ 17:00
TUE (9日) 9:30 ~ 17:00
WED (10日) 9:30 ~ 17:00
THU (11日) 9:30 ~ 15:00

 

Exhibition Schedule Changed

My exhibition schedule has been changed. I’m sorry for the inconvenience. My son caught a cold and he needs my care.

I want to say big thanks for Ehrismann staff for their kindness and understanding.

The exhibition starts this Sunday (７日) and lasts until Thursday (１１日).

I am really excited!

Nobuto Fukutsu's Exhibition

I had chance to meet my friend Nobuto Fukutsu today, again, after many years. It could be said that today I met him for first time, through his work.

His work is lyrical expression, but also free and artistically pure. His floral pattern and soft colour make stark contrast with the striking expression of the women, and (inevitable!) atomic explosion! I love this disguise, indeed, Fukutsu is an artist of great magnitude.