The Salt Yard, an independent art space, will exhibit When Coast Lilies are in Blossom by Japanese photographer Kazutomo Tashiro. Since April 15, 2011, Tashiro has visited Sanriku and Fukushima in Japan, where are impacted by the 3/11 Earthquake. Talking with residents while taking their pictures, he assembled a large amount of portraits that were finally developed into a series.

In 2012, Tashiro travelled to a lot of places, including the coastal and inland areas. And he drew his focus on different places and peoples according to the change of seasons. In spring, it is residents in temporary housing. In summer, it is people in the prosperous red light districts in northeastern parts of Japan. In autumn, it is residents in Futaba who are forced to evacuate due to radiation. In winter, it is workers in the first Fukushima nuclear plant.

In 2013, Tashiro was determined to revisit the places he visited the previous year again. Implicating the wheel of life, this exhibition will showcase his works between 2011 when the earthquake occurred and the spring of 2013. Tashiro was responding to the ever-changing situation in the quake zone. And during the process, he was having dialogue with himself continuously.

When images of the 3/11 Earthquakes were all about crumbling walls and dilapidated houses in the media, Tashiro redefined camera as a tool for communication. These plain, spontaneous portraits and ordinary, daily conversation offer a feeling that people in these pictures are living right in front of the eyes of the audiences. The focus of the audience is brought back to concern about people and allow us to have a more vivid recognition over the situation in northeastern parts of Japan after the quake.

-The Salt Yard

Image: © Kazutomo Tashiro
Courtesy of the artist and The Salt Yard