I Choose People Who Share My Sensibility

──You mentioned capturing the proximity of emptiness and ecstasy. What kind of moments do you choose to press the shutter?

d'AgataI can only say that I press it when I feel it. That's why I always carry a small camera with me. But in the end, I only end up shooting at night (laughs). When I photograph people, I intuitively choose those who give off the same vibe as me. I suspect they, like me, carry within them a sense of loneliness or emptiness. The shooting locations are also intuitive. Even in a place I've never been before, I can instinctively tell where to take the photo.

──Do you remember everything about the places and people you photograph?

d'AgataNames are not important to me, so I don't remember them. I don't take notes either. However, I do remember the physical and emotional communication of that moment very well.

Myself, Blending In as Part of the World Within the Photograph

──In this exhibition, there's a section near the entrance displaying only photographs where you yourself appear. Why is that?

d'AgataPhotographs featuring myself are also a characteristic of my work. While it might not be immediately obvious that it's me, my figure is mixed into various photos throughout the venue, not just in that section. It wasn't always like this in the beginning, but gradually I've come to appear more frequently in my photographs. Some are taken with a self-timer, while others are taken by someone I handed the camera to. However, these photos are not strictly self-portraits. I am depicted as a part of that world.



──Is this an attempt to erase the boundary between the one taking the photo and the one being photographed?

d'AgataYes. This is an act of justifying my logic. For me, a photographer is not someone who objectively captures a subject, but rather someone who must blend in. Daido Moriyama said, 'Photography is an amoeba. It infects you from the other side.' My thinking is exactly the same. I believe that a photographer should not maintain a distance from the subject, but must become a part of the reality before them. That's why I chose "SITUATION" as the title for this solo exhibition.

KitamuraHearing d'Agata's words like this, and then looking at the photographs, deepens my understanding even further. I could reconfirm the points that aligned with my own thoughts, and also discover entirely new meanings. I also like the fact that you only shoot at night and in the early morning. I hope OPENERS readers who see this interview will also visit and see the works in person. I believe that by recalling his words while viewing the pieces, you will surely be able to discover the profound meanings hidden within them. Thank you very much for your valuable insights today, d'Agata.

d'AgataThank you as well. I enjoyed our time together.