untitled verse two Photograph - Limited Edition of 3

archival giclée [ink-stamped with Mutsuo Takahashi’s original manuscript] signed verso 2017 1 + 1 A.P. price includes frame. "print only" also available for purchase USD980 This image is part of a series titled "Go To Become" and was published as a book in 2017 by 'roshin books' in Japan. What follows is the statement from the book with the same title. Go To Become I photograph. I read. Poetry bridges my analytical and intuitive thoughts. The work in this book came from an urge to express my feelings as a newcomer to Japan.
The photographs later received an award, and when the jury asked for a brief description I said the following: I live in a big city
the biggest in the world by some measure
I’m a foreigner here
at times I feel trapped, alienated and lonely amongst the millions of people calling this home These images were all photographed in central Tokyo not far from my home in Shibuya
at the sanctuaries where I find peace For a while I had nourished a dream of having somebody else’s poetry accompanying my work. By chance I was introduced to the poet Mutsuo Takahashi just a few months before I did this series of photographs. Not surprisingly I found a beautiful and inspiring man behind the work I already knew and admired. After our initial meeting, I read everything I could of Takahashi’s work. I photographed him for a magazine. I was happy to have become acquainted with him. Eventually I felt close enough to ask if he would put words to my photographs. He accepted, and I was thrilled when I read the poems. They capture my feelings and intentions perfectly.