Photography That Captures What You Want, Right in the Center

—First, regarding your current work, when were these photos taken?

Actually, this exhibition features a mix of photos taken for the photobook "Agenda" in 2001 and new works shot between 2005 and 2006. The smaller prints are from "Agenda," while the larger ones are the new pieces.

—Both seem to focus on everyday scenes, or people within those scenes. What are the major differences between the two?

With "Agenda," I was photographing both landscapes and people, so for this exhibition, I had the intention to focus more on people. Also, in the case of "Agenda," the photos were taken with the premise of creating a photobook, so I considered how they would look in the book, such as avoiding placing the subject in the center. In contrast, for "Rumor," I tried to disregard such considerations as much as possible. I was thinking about making them large prints from the outset. Therefore, while the previous work was all shot with compact cameras, this time I used a 6x6 format. To put it extremely, I wasn't conscious of composition; it was more about whether the subject I wanted was right in the center.



—Did you make any discoveries while you were shooting?

Of course. This time, in particular, subtle interactions with the subjects were necessary, and I felt that my own physical capabilities weren't enough to capture what I wanted. That's why I chose the title "Rumor," which means "rumor" or "hearsay." What I wanted this time wasn't necessarily a moment when the subject's gaze was directed at me. In other words, the moment the other person looked at me wasn't always the shutter opportunity. Furthermore, each interaction was different, so it was quite challenging.

Moving Back and Forth Between Myself and the Borderline of My Outer World

—What was it that you were seeking with this series, Wataya-san?

Of course, there's the era reflected through people, but it's not just that. Even with children's expressions, the way they look at a photographer is completely different from 10 years ago. And then there are very strong gazes, or things that people normally think they shouldn't look at. It's very difficult to put into words what I was seeking, but since I was planning to make large prints, one aspect was creating something that would hold up when enlarged.

—Do you have any formative images or experiences that serve as the origin of your photography?

I don't particularly focus on anything within myself. If I had to say, it's more like I'm constantly moving back and forth between myself and the borderline of my outer world. Photography is a very personal thing, and I believe my job is to show that. On the other hand, photography is also a very social medium, but perhaps personal things are inherently social.

—That might be true.

I believe that photographers and artists, and people of that nature, can only be useful to society if they are a bit selfish. Living selfishly is quite difficult. Well, I'm not saying that's me, of course (laughs).


Osamu Wataya Photo Exhibition "Rumor/Pond"

Dates: Ongoing until December 9 (Sun)
Hours: 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
Venue: RAT HOLE GALLERY
5-5-3 Minami-Aoyama
HYSTERIC GLAMOUR Aoyama Store B1F
Tel. 03-6419-3581

Catalog also published
To coincide with the exhibition, RAT HOLE will release "Rumor" and "Agenda 2001," a reorganized version of "Agenda" published in 2002, each in a limited edition of 500 copies.