Photographic Immersion in a Rural Japanese Town
When Yoshiki Hase found himself in Ena, his father's hometown, he decided to translate its eccentric atmosphere into images.
© Yoshiki Hase
Over seven years, photographer Yoshiki Hase captured the residents of Ena, a little town in Japan. Composed of a documentary series and surrealist portraits, the series ENA is an original project that won the LensCulture award in 2018.
A story of filiation
Yoshiki Hase is an emerging talent whose work has already been exhibited in Tokyo, Taipei, Paris and New York. When he discovered the town of Ena, nestled in the mountains, while shooting, an intense connection formed between the artist and the place. This link was made stronger by the fact that his father was born in the town.
He returned there several times between 2010 and 2017 to take photos. Through a mischievous eye and with a great deal of finesse, Yoshiki Hase offers a poetic, unexpected vision of the Japanese countryside, illustrated through portraits of its eccentric inhabitants.
ENA (2018), a series of photographs by Yoshiki Hase published by Yukai Hands Publishing.
© Yoshiki Hase
© Yoshiki Hase
© Yoshiki Hase
© Yoshiki Hase
TRENDING
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
The Tradition of the Black Eggs of Mount Hakone
In the volcanic valley of Owakudani, curious looking black eggs with beneficial properties are cooked in the sulphurous waters.
-
Gashadokuro, the Legend of the Starving Skeleton
This mythical creature, with a thirst for blood and revenge, has been a fearsome presence in Japanese popular culture for centuries.
-
A Rare Japanese Garden Hidden Within Honen-in Temple in Kyoto
Visible only twice a year, ‘Empty River’, designed by landscape architect Marc Peter Keane, evokes the carbon cycle.
-
‘YUGEN’ at Art Fair Tokyo: Illumination through Obscurity
In this exhibition curated by Tara Londi, eight international artists gave their rendition of the fundamental Japanese aesthetic concept.