Lounge
April 17, 2015
18th: Seiichi Furuya Interview (3)
18th: Seiichi Furuya Exhibition "im fluss" Interview (Part 3)
This is the interview with Seiichi Furuya, which we have been bringing to you since the installment before last.
In this third installment, we finally delve into the photographer's perspective,
and his view of life itself that lies beyond it.
Photo by Jamandfixedit by TAKEUCHI Toranosuke(City Writes)
Things I Always See Suddenly Resonate
—You once said that each of your photographs is like a single letter of the alphabet, and that their collection creates a narrative. You also mentioned that your subjects are always found in everyday life. So, when do you press the shutter in the midst of this everyday life?
Seiichi FuruyaIt's when I feel something, as I mentioned earlier. What resonates with me isn't always the same thing.
There are many things we see all the time but don't truly perceive.
Then, one day, they suddenly resonate with me.
For example, among the works I've presented this time, the flower photographs are relatively recent, taken in my garden last year.
However, the flowers themselves didn't suddenly bloom; they had been blooming every year.
Still, it was last year that they appeared to me as something that needed to be photographed.
The Entire World Exists Within the Mundane
—What exactly does "seeing" mean to you?
That's a difficult question to put into words, but it refers to things that feel somehow mysterious, unsettling, or even a little frightening.
At the very least, I don't photograph them simply because they are beautiful.
However, whether they hold a clear meaning in that single moment is another matter; it's only when they accumulate that they begin to hold significance.
I also believe it's best to leave a certain degree of ambiguity in photographs themselves.
I think the beauty of photography lies in allowing viewers to interpret it in their own way.
—And these slightly mysterious moments are found within your immediate surroundings, in everyday life, aren't they?
Precisely.
That's why I don't deliberately choose a theme and go somewhere to take photographs.
Even just looking at my own garden, everything is there.
Not an exaggeration, the entire world is there.
The current exhibition features a variety of everyday scenes, from photos taken in my garden last year to snapshots taken nearly 30 years ago. All of these come together to form who I am today.
—Then, through this exhibition, we too would like to trace our own lives while resonating with your narrative. Thank you very much for your time today.
Thank you as well.
Seiichi Furuya Exhibition "im fluss"
Dates: On display until August 3rd (Fri.)
Hours: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
Venue: RAT HOLE GALLERY
HYSTERIC GLAMOUR Aoyama B1F, 5-5-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku
TEL: 03-6419-3581