 |
Semey TomatsuContemporary Japanese photographer. One of the most significant post-war photo artists in Japan.
Date of Birth: 16.01.1930
Country:  Japan |
Content:
- Shomei Tomatsu: A Paragon of Postwar Japanese Photography
- Independent Career and Breakthrough
- "Chewing Gum and Chocolate" and "VIVO"
- Natural Disasters and Nuclear Aftermath
- Hiroshima and the Hibakusha
- Later Years and Geographic Themes
Shomei Tomatsu: A Paragon of Postwar Japanese Photography
Early Life and EducationBorn in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, in 1930, Shomei Tomatsu's parents divorced when he was two, leaving him to be raised by his mother. After graduating with a degree in economics from Aichi University in 1954, he began working at "Iwanami Shashin Bunko," a photography division of the Iwanami publishing house.
Independent Career and Breakthrough
In 1956, Tomatsu left Iwanami to pursue a freelance career. His photographs gained recognition in photographic magazines, and in 1958, his photo portraits of a politician from Fukui Prefecture earned him the Japan Photography Critics' Association Newcomer's Award. This series served as a catalyst for Tomatsu's unique artistic approach.
"Chewing Gum and Chocolate" and "VIVO"
From 1958 to 1980, Tomatsu embarked on a project titled "Chewing Gum and Chocolate," documenting the aftermath of Japan's occupation and Americanization. Alongside fellow young photographers such as Ikkō Narahara and Kikuji Kawada, Tomatsu formed the "VIVO" collective in 1959, which lasted until 1961. Its short-lived existence had a profound influence on contemporary Japanese photography.
Natural Disasters and Nuclear Aftermath
Following a devastating typhoon and flood in Nagoya in 1959 that claimed thousands of lives, Tomatsu returned to his hometown, photographing the aftermath and grieving the loss of his childhood home. In 1960, commissioned by the Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, Tomatsu visited Nagasaki to document the effects of the atomic bombing. The resulting book, "hiroshima-nagasaki document 1961," showcased the horrors of the blasts through photographs by Ken Domon (Hiroshima) and Tomatsu (Nagasaki).
Hiroshima and the Hibakusha
After completing his assignment, Tomatsu remained in Nagasaki and continued photographing the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors). In 1961, the Japan Photography Critics' Association named him Photographer of the Year.
Later Years and Geographic Themes
In his later years, Tomatsu's exhibitions focused on specific geographical locations, exploring themes tied to the regions of Okinawa, Aichi, and Kyoto.
