- Profile -
Yuji Susaki / Artist, photographer
The housing complexes in the 1960s and early 1970s where I spent my childhood could be said to be a microcosm of Japan during the period of high economic growth. Hundreds of families lived in the geometric apartment complexes, with dozens of buildings towering on a hilltop, hopeful working couples, and many energetic children. Every single person experienced Japan's economic growth. I grew up there as a child who was sensitive to the difference between "light and shadow" such as the flowers blooming on the south side of the complex, the deciduous trees, and the moss and ferns filling the north side, and my visual acuity has only increased with each passing year. In contrast to the rapid economic growth, I also spent my childhood influenced by fantastical works that seemed to reflect the conflicts people were going through at the time. The imagination and delusional ideas that I had cultivated since then are still the foundation of my work as infantilism. The most important thing I value in creating is my own "conscience and true feelings."
"Conscience" here refers to the judgment born from reason, and "true feelings" refers to the author's desires. Of course, there are times when the author's conscientious judgment takes precedence, and there are times when the author's true feelings lead to rational ideas. Reflecting the conflict that arises between these two in the work at the same time is risky and creates a kind of instability. However, while yin and yang, front and back, may appear to be opposites, I feel that they are actually one world.
The process in which "conscience" and "true feelings" sharpen each other's senses in the work. This kind of artistic creation, which pushes the boundaries, is what I am pursuing. I think I am drawn to the things that exist between "light" and "shadow."
By capturing the "front" and "back" of humanity, I create works that delve deeper into the question of "what does it mean to be human?", recreating the world of "two sides" that I experienced in my childhood through Japan's hidden culture and customs.
Exhibition
Awards
-Exhibition Information-
icon CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY×ROOTOTE in GINZA TSUTAYA BOOKS
Ginza Tsutaya Books is holding the second collaboration project between CCC Art Lab, icon, which is holding a group exhibition "icon CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY" by artists focusing on contemporary photography, and tote bag specialty store ROOTOTE.
Prints by Shiobara Masumi, Kurimoto Misato, Hirazawa Kenji, and Susaki Yuji will also be on display and for sale, as well as art photo tote bags featuring works by 13 photographers participating in icon (Ikeya Tomohide, Suzuki Moeko, Oguro Kumi, and others).
Date: March 6th (Wednesday) - April 2nd (Tuesday), 2024
*End date may be subject to change.
Time: 10:30 - 21:00 *Final day ends at 17:00
Venue: Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore Art Book Section
Address: GINZA SIX 6F, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Organized by: Ginza Tsutaya Bookstore
Cooperation: icon CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY, ROOTOTE
Inquiries: 03-3575-7755 (during business hours) / info.ginza@ccc.co.jp
- products -
*The color of the actual product may differ depending on your monitor settings and room lighting.
Detail
The artist's work is heat-transfer printed on the classic tote bag "TALL", which is a signature of ROOTOTE. The artist's caption and signature are printed on the back pocket.
Material: Cotton (heat transfer print)
Size: H38×W30×D9cm
Pockets: 1 outside, 2 inside