Our Artists > Pierfrancesco Celada

About the series: i wish i knew your name, japan

5 Questions for Pierfrancesco Celada about this series

Why did you choose this subject?
During my first visit to Japan in 2009, I was fascinated by the isolation and loneliness I felt in the streets. As a foreigner traveling in an alien environment, the language and cultural differences only augmented the distance between the locals and me. But observing the country’s residents, I realized that they were not able to interact successfully either. I decided to return in 2010 to make this work.  

What do you see when you look at these photos?
I have started looking at Japan as if it was a closed box, approaching it from different viewpoints and perspectives, wandering around and visiting different cities. I never wanted to loose my initial sense of loneliness and distance I felt. I never wanted to get close enough to see inside; I never wanted to open the box.

What research and production did you go through to make these images?
The Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka Megalopolis, also called Taiheiyo Belt, is a unique example of urban agglomeration, housing an estimated population of more than 80 million people. It is only possible to imagine the number of interactions that a person will have with other individuals in a single day there. Despite this incredibly high number of chances to interact with people, it seems that society here is moving in the opposite direction.

Do your images help the viewer understand the subject in a new way?
The purpose of this work is to create awareness and highlight the problems caused by modernization and the rapid environmental changes. Is it still important to be, or feel, part of a group? Do we feel part of the environment? Are we alone in the crowd?

What did you learn by making these images?
It is now time to open the box.