Reflecting the Depth of Parental Bonds

──What inspired you to start the "Mothers and Daughters" series?

I began the "Mothers and Daughters" series as a continuation of "Teenage Stories," which was inspired by my own adolescence.

──Could you tell us about the concept behind the work?

The main concept reflects my own family life, focusing on the relationship between my mother and me, and between my mother and grandmother. Each piece expresses a different story.

──Is the mother-daughter relationship special to you, Julia?

I am a mother of two, and I have a very close relationship with my sons. However, I believe there is a unique bond between mothers and daughters. Girls go through the same developmental stages as their mothers. As they grow through various phases, especially adolescence, they likely have many questions about themselves. Sometimes a mother can be overprotective, and the daughter might feel resentful. It's a complex relationship where love and dislike coexist.

──How do you approach the photography process?

I prefer to photograph real mothers and daughters in their own homes, so the process from finding subjects to completing a piece can take three to six months. My casting manager finds the subjects, who can be anyone from ordinary people to artists. I first meet the mother and daughter recommended, and spend time observing their lives and relationship. Then, I visit their home and take photos of various parts of the house. I choose the setting for the artwork from these photographs and begin the main shoot. It's a very lengthy process.

──How do you prepare the clothing and props for the shoots?

I usually work with a stylist and a hair and makeup artist to conceptualize the props and clothing for the series. I have a particular fondness for vintage fashion and sometimes style the shoots myself. I want the colors, patterns, and textures of the clothing to reflect in the artwork, and I find that ordinary high-street brands don't convey this effectively. Vintage clothing, on the other hand, can bring out individuality. My mother often wore clothes like these, so vintage items resonate well with my style.

──What is the reason behind adopting this unique expressive method?

I want viewers to feel a sense of "slight strangeness" when they see my work. To create a surreal atmosphere throughout the photographs, I pay great attention to lighting. I rarely use natural daylight, instead meticulously setting up artificial lights to create the mood. Artificial lighting can transform a plain background into something truly unique.

──Are the stories in the works based on the actual experiences of the mothers and daughters you photograph?

The stories are mostly drawn from my own experiences, and those of my mother and sisters.
For example, the concept for "The Wedding Day" depicts a mother and daughter on the eve of the daughter's wedding. Neither appears particularly happy. This is actually based on my mother's story. She became pregnant and married in a hurry, without being fully prepared.

──Which is your favorite piece?

My favorite piece is "Departure." I love the setting, the atmosphere, and the style of the house. I spent a considerable amount of time searching for a mother and daughter who strongly resembled each other for this work; they look so much alike, like sisters. It expresses the feelings I experience when parting from my mother. My mother lives in Germany, and I live in London, so even at my age, I feel a deep sense of loneliness every time we part. I feel this piece is the most connected to my own emotions.

──Where do you draw inspiration from, including your other series?

I draw inspiration from everyday life, the works of other photographers, paintings and art exhibitions, architecture, and many other sources.

──Are there any new challenges you would like to take on in the future?

In a recently completed project, I photographed blind individuals for the first time. It was something I had never attempted before, and I conducted interviews with the subjects prior to the shoot. This series of portraits of blind people was approached entirely differently from my usual methods, making it a new challenge for me.

Julia Fullerton-Batten Exhibition "Mothers and Daughters"

Dates | February 9th (Sat) - February 21st (Thu) / March 2nd (Sat) - March 14th (Thu) Exhibition of 20 works | Closed Mondays

Hours | 11:00 - 20:00

Venue | Tokyo Arts Gallery

2-23-8 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Tel. 03-6427-6665
http://www.tokyoartsgallery.com