• Ito　 I’m Takahiro Ito, the curator in charge of the “Things So Faint But Real: Contemporary Japanese Photography vol.15” exhibition which opens on the Dec. 1. Every year at Tokyo Photographic Art Museum we host an exhibition to showcase the work of young Japanese artists.
• Shinohara　 Everyone is a similar age to me! What is the meaning behind “Things So Faint But Real”?
• Ito　 We chose five artists who, in my view, have a conscious connection to society in their work. Eiki Mori won 39th Kimura Ihei Award.
• Shinohara　 Why are his photographs red?
• Ito　 The photographs are taken in black and white, and are printed red during the development process. Mori, as a gay man, took photos with people he is close to, similar to family photographs, and the red colour can be said to represent the blood ties of family. The colouration also exaggerates the sense of incongruity the viewer may have about Mori’s presence in the photographs, thereby challenging them to think about what a family really is.
• Shinohara　 This form of expression is unique to Mori, and I feel like his work wouldn’t have been possible in a previous era. Overseas, LGBT people are quite popular, but Japan still has a long way to go.
• Ito　 Now we’re living in a time when people are becoming interested in this subject, so his work carries a lot of significance. Next, we have Mayumi Hosokura. Motivated by the 2015 murder of a Japanese schoolboy in Kawasaki, she produced a photography collection “KAWASAKI” which looks at the current state of that city.

Mayumi Hosokura, from the series KAWASAKI, 2016

• Shinohara　 I really like when the warmth of the film camera comes through, like in these photographs. It reminds me of HIROMIX’s work.
• Ito　 Hosokura has been influenced a lot by HIROMIX. Her work is in a documentary style, but it has its own point of view. The blue is characteristic of her work, and suits the series Kawasaki well.
• Shinohara　 This exhibition seems to be one where you can see each artist’s unwavering conviction.
• Ito　 I feel a sense of empathy towards that conviction, and want all the visitors to see it too. The other artists are Futoshi Miyagi, Fumi Ishino and Tomoko Kawai – three more photographers to watch out for. Each artist will show what is “real” as it comes face to face with their own identity and sense of reality.
• Shinohara　 The fact that the artists and I are of the same generation really resonates with me. I feel ready to be inspired!