THE LUMIERE BROTHERS CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

All my works were made up based on my project ‘Border’, putting 20 pieces which sized 16.5×23.4 inches, and 2 pieces which sized 24×36 inches. In the hall, we played music ‘Tibetan Singing Bowl’ in the background.
The Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography was located in an area which was like Soho in New York. Its white colored building which contained the gallery stood out conspicuously. It is the only gallery in Russia, and has a bookstore and a café on the property. In the large hall, many other photo exhibitions were held in parallel. As people had to pay an entrance fee, it seemed like a photo museum.

PREPARED PROMOTION

The curators proposed to me some kinds of promotional planning of the exhibition; talk show at the bookstore named Sunday Market, appear on TV show and get interviewed for a magazine. They had designed every plan in great detail for the opening ceremony. One of the best plans that I was impressed with was the talk show for the art trendsetters. Art trendsetters are people who define the value of the arts and distribute them into the world.
In Russia, they have the art trendsetter group called SNOB. They are considered as leaders of art, so to speak. My curator planned and thought of the contents of the speech in detail. Once the promotional activities started, she led the ceremony and also did simultaneous interpretation for me. The curators devote their time and energy to the promotional activities for the art trendsetters. This is because they know that it is the most important part to sell the photographs and prove the value of them in their country. Seeing my curator’s keenness, I revealed how serious the promotional activities were in Russia.

THE TALK SHOW IN THE BOOKSTORE

On Sunday, the day before the opening of the photo exhibition, I had a talk show in the largest bookstore in Russia. It was so crowded and several people had to stand. After the talk show, people asked me about the statement and Fresco Giclee printing as Japanese cutting-edge technology.

THE TV SHOW

I appeared on Russian traditional culture TV program on the first day of the opening day. I got an interview from a famous TV anchor. She asked me about my photographic work.

A MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

After I got back to the Lumiere Brothers Center from the TV station, I had a magazine interview. Here again, I was asked about the statement and also asked why I needed to express the prayer in my photographs, which was hard to answer.

A TALK SHOW FOR THE ART TRENDSETTERS AND VIP

I had another talk show for the art trendsetters. They were people who define the value of the arts and distribute them into the world. So the talk show seemed much more special. It was, so to speak, for people as VIP. My curator, Ekaterina moderated the talk show and did simultaneous interpretation for me. She supported and helped me at the talk show in every moment.

CEREMONY OF OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION

I have been thinking what I really want to say and how to express my thoughts through my work. Now a days we can get a lot of information via the internet which we could have never known the past. With the globalization, the universal sense is needed in arts. Through the promotional activities in foreign countries, I keenly realized the importance of the contents of my own statement.
I was always asked what I really wanted to say and why I chose this subject. Taking and showing beautiful pictures was insufficient. Working in the different countries with various thoughts and many kinds of races, I always have to be aware what I bring to them through my photographs.

I was lucky to meet people who lead photographic art and it was a great experience for me.
・This is the blog about the exhibition in Russia http://lumiere.ru/exhibitions/id-143/
・The article of SNOB, the famous art trendsetter in Russia http://www.snob.ru/selected/entry/78623

THE MOVIE OF THE EXHIBITION