From July 31st ( Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 2nd floor, Men's Creators' section " ART UP" will host a photo exhibition titled "Memories of the City" by Tomokazu Yamada, who works as a video artist, film director, and photographer.

While producing music videos for many popular musicians such as Kenshi Yonezu and Aimyon, Yamada is also a leading artist who works on commercials and short films. This time, however, he has captured everyday moments through photography, rather than video. We asked him about his thoughts on his first solo exhibition and the highlights of his photographs.

Event Information

Tomokazu Yamada Solo Exhibition "Memories of the City"

□July 31st (Wednesday) - August 20th (Tuesday)
□ Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 2nd Floor = Men's Creators/Art Up

*Please note that the exhibition content may be subject to change due to unavoidable circumstances.
Click here for event details ▶

Photographs that feel both new and somehow nostalgic, resonating with memories.

In addition to the artists mentioned earlier, Yamada has worked with KID FRESINO, Wednesday Campanella, Chara, and in commercials, he has worked with GMO Click Securities, which filmed Yui Aragaki underwater, and the Baycrews group, which garnered attention for its collaboration between Nijiro Murakami and SUMIRE—all masterpieces that have attracted attention for their innovative visual beauty. It was also through video that Yamada, who is so strongly associated with being a video artist, began taking photographs.

"When I started studying film at university, SLR cameras came out, and it was a big deal that I started using SLRs for both video and photography. There are various differences in the details, but ultimately it's just a matter of switching a button. Even now, I try to take photos using the same settings as my video, so in that sense, it's not so much about being unique, but rather that photography is something that I've always done. Video is just 24 photos per second, so for me, when I'm shooting video or taking photos, it's the same feeling."

The theme for this project is "Memories of the City." It seems that the project came about because the creators are interested in human activity and simply love cities, but initially they only considered Tokyo as the city to focus on.

"When I thought about why I decided to include photos of other cities, I realized that people often say that you appreciate Tokyo more when you travel abroad. But recently, I've come to think that it's the exact opposite. Because I know the good points of Tokyo, I feel like I can appreciate the good points of any city. I can say that I truly love Shinjuku, where I was born and raised, but when I thought about what that feeling of love for Shinjuku is, and what makes me want to take pictures there, I realized that it's not a newly acquired feeling or sensation, but rather something closer to a nostalgic feeling. In other words, I want to believe that it's something I've always had. It's a very forced and positive way of thinking, but I don't only feel that way about Tokyo, so I decided to include photos of various cities."

© Tomokazu Yamada

The photographs evoke a sense of nostalgia in the viewer, as if they were looking at a distant relative. Yamada continues, this sense of déjà vu is the strength of the photographs on display.

"It might be fragmentary, but I don't get the feeling that I'm looking at a city I've never been to. It's like it resonates with my own memories and a new landscape is created. I'd be happy if people could be aware of that aspect. Also, for this exhibition, they selected photos that I hadn't intended to choose. Like, 'Huh, you chose that one?' (laughs). Personally, I really enjoy that kind of thing. Out of all the options, the staff said, 'This is the best,' so I thought, 'Oh, that's how it is' (laughs). Even I, the photographer, tend to get caught up in preconceptions and images, so I leave the impressions and feelings about the photos up to the viewer. That's really fun."

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