Is photography just a visual representation? Can it also be an artistic expression that evokes emotions, tell stories and provoke thoughts?
The brutality of the Imperial Japanese Army was drilled into GiGi’s young mind as her grandmother described how her oldest son, fresh out of English school, was executed on the very first day British Malaya was seized by the Empire of Japan. Yet, not a single trip had left her untouched, as she crisscrossed the Land of the Rising Sun exploring its heritage in 2019 and 2024 en route to Singapore to visit her ailing mother. On this thin, long archipelago, the size of California, she learned to be more mindful of what she was pointing my camera at. Moreover, equipped with a set of skills developed through various contests and workshops at the Cookeville Camera Club, she was ready to step out of her comfort zone.
As a candid shot was taken or architecture was photographed, she wondered why artists create. Is it about finding answers to life, just like Trent Parke suggested? Or, trying to reconcile the contradiction between the brutality of the Imperial Japanese Army and the kindness of the ordinary Japanese people.
It was the meaning in the making each time she photographed in this beautiful country because woven into the photos were family history and a personal story.
The presentation will cover:
- Why Japan is one of the most visited and photographed countries in the world.
- The dos and don’ts (i.e. ethics and laws) in doing street photography in Japan.
- Explain why tangible cultural heritage assets (i.e. historic monuments and religious structures), instead of steel and glass, were chosen.
Location of the meeting is Cookeville Art Studio and Gallery at 186 S Walnut Ave, Ste a, Cookeville, TN 38501. Meeting starts at 7pm – Doors open at 6:45pm.