The title is sensational but it's borrowed from many media outlets, the real story is far more complex. I hope you enjoy this video. A major thank you to our sponsor exposure for sponsoring a segment of this video, if you want to check out my stories talking about how I put my first book together and my travels check it out here: tatianahopper.exposure.co/from-egypt-to-south-of-france
Terrific mini documentary here on a fascinating photographer. Sometimes I think if it wasn't for the internet, we never would've known about photographers Masahisa Fukase. His life story reminds me fo the 1989 Japanese film 'Black Rain' (not the one starring Michael Douglas) about a Japanese family trying to remain true too the social mores of the time, even after their country suffered a devastating attack and unbelievable losses. The photo at 2:56 is a personal favorite. The cat singing a debut with the singer on television is priceless. As with late poet Edgar Allan Poe, Fukase seemed to embrace melancholia the same way one embraces a lover. Several of Fukase's photographic projects such as his family portraits as 'archiving death' and photographing his still born child is what some would consider questionable. To quote an old military saying, 'if sailor/solider believes they're going to die in combat, that person will find a way to make if happen'. It seems to be true of Masahisa Fukase. It's unfortunate Fukase suffered that head injured which ended his photographic career. Perhaps his photos might be inspiration to future artists.
This resonates with me so deeply. My narcissistic ex-girlfriend told me before I left her 4 years ago and destroyed my life that "your camera is creating distance." Even though at the time my lens was primarily pointed at her to capture and show her the beauty I saw and to capture our moments together. I asked her after I left her what she meant and why she said it and she said she didn't know, that she loves photographers and that he current boyfriends were so jealous of the photos I made of her... It's been years and it's like I am addicted to the poison that she is, but at least I am back in college, even though I am 39, and one year through the commercial photography program. I want an MFA or a PHD eventually. It is true I am in love with photography, I too went through a phase in 2021-22 when I was photographing the massive murders of crows over Portland Oregon. There would be hundreds if not thousands of them flying in massive black clouds over the Willamette River to sleep in the trees along the waterfront. The cacophony of cawing was so loud as they settled into their branches.
Finished the video I mean his story is quite sad but at the same time I do agree that perhaps with everything put into context he wasn’t necessarily “obsessed” with anything, who knows. I liked the narrative very much, not sure about some of the photos just not very keen on his style but still appreciate it. Cheers for Thailand currently!
Kudos for attempting, purposefully or not, to correct and preserve his legacy. He is too often portrayed as an obsessed stalker to his wives. As a mentally broken artist. He was complex. He was damaged by life. He tried to cope. As artist, everything that manifests is in some way a coping mechanism. He was genius at coping. Genius.
That’s precisely how I tried to depict him and his photography as a way of coping with life in general. He was very complex and I don’t think the portrayal he is given very often is fair. At least from my humble opinion. Best!
There's something about seeing the work of a someone laid out like that. He put his entire soul and being into his art, and though his life is objectively heartbreaking, he sought out beauty to describe it. The beauty in the people and places he loved, and even the beauty in the capturing of all the ugly things. The stillborn, the ravens, the suffering animals. He had an eye for the things that resonate.
Great video. Yes, some colleagues went through a complex and painful life, not always for been photographer, no matter what they have done for paying the bills. I agree with you, photography was a lifeboat in his own way.
Very fascinating. Taking into account the total symbology/archetype of ravens in Japanese culture, it seems appropriate he sub- consciously chose ravens as an arcatypical running theme. Carl Jung would be proud.
Yes I think it makes sense that's why I tried to understand what they really mean or if their meaning is somehow different to what is that in my western culture. Jung, Freud and all the gang ahah.
great overview, thank you. I never got the "destructive" perspective of photography on his life. he was an artist and it was his joy. He may have been dark but that doesn't equal the negative aspects that some might try to conflate.
Totally, I think a lot needs to be put into context because I don’t think it should be necessary viewed negatively, thanks for your comment and for giving it a watch.
I’m always in awe of the videos you put out!! The photographers that you showcase and their art. This one is one of your best!!!! I’ve never heard of this gentleman or really 70% of the artists that you enlighten me with. But I’m so glad that you do!!! Thank you so very much and I hope that you will continue to do so! Best wishes always!!!!!
Thank you so much Terry I really appreciate it and I’m happy to be able to introduce different artists to the audience, thanks for the support and kind words!
Thank you for this very interesting and well made video. I am not that familiar with Fukase's work but am inspired to explore it. The quotations about Fukase are especially nice.
Thank you for giving it a watch, it’s worth to dive deeper I would in particular either recommend the monograph I used in this video which reunites different images and projects he worked on during his life and of course “Ravens” which is a staple.
I went to see his exhibition at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum. It was nice. You did a great portrait video, as always. This year, I went to see an exhibition by another Japanese photographer, Yasui Nakaji. Maybe you know him. I hope you can make a portrait of this avant-garde Japanese artist in the future.
Wow. That was a stunning episode, solidly written and composed to frame some awesome images. The highlight for me was the images from the Solitude series, which I didn't read as depressive (although Fukase obviously was) but inspiring, because despite his state, he was able to produce his most compelling work. Not exactly surprising that he was derailed by alcohol and stairs, but to linger for that long afterwards, seems so random. Or did his "revenge play against life" with photography in wishing to "stop the world" inspire life to exact it's own revenge against him, and make him almost like a static image with a 20 year coma? 😕
I frankly had no idea with the body of works of Masahisa Fukase. My latest works of photography feels home for me with the works of Fukase, Morimaya, Winogrand, Mary Ellen Mark, Cohen, and Meyeroitz. And then therese my acquaintance from high school I went back on Guam in 2011 to 2014. Making pictures of people without consent is my photography style I actually felt the most comfortable with. My discomfort comes way more on how people getting self-concious rather than me being anxious entirely. I would my photograph my journey as "His Little Way" to give back to the community and the metro Seattle. I really dedicated my style and body of work as a street photographer to Alexandra's black one-piece bathing suit! People will not understand my current body of work with my camera; but she once told me to hold my head high. This shoot was photographer portrait photographer while still living on Guam. But the way that she came out on these shoots; has my mind rent-free. So much things that I cannot properly explain. I might be starting to hear the electrical noise on electrical lines with my pumping heart... The combination of the vibes of Serial Experiments Lain, Mary Ellen Mark, and Alexandra's Black Bikini shoots has me decided not to pursue the traditional portrait and client photoshoots! While photographing the homeless and the mentally ill on the streets in Downtown Seattle often.
Thanks again for a beautifully produced and thought provoking video. Why people think like that I don’t know. I mean you could say that about people who engage in activities where they actually risk their lives but photography as a death wish is about as realistic as accountancy. Are photographers more likely to be alcoholic misanthropes? Is it just Japanese photographers? Is it to do with the war, or growing up in a cold, isolated place like Hokkaido? I think he was a photographer who had a certain personality that drove his photography in a certain direction. He wanted to use photography almost purely as self expression and maybe a way to document his understanding of his culture, the failure of ideas and technology to improve the world. Rather than destroying it, if anything, photography probably saved his life and gave it a meaning he could live with. He fell down because of alcohol. If he’d been a heavy smoker who died of cancer no one would have thought of saying photography destroyed his life.
Will you make a video of Araki? Even though he's somewhat controversial I think his life's work is worth covering. Moriyama Daido is another photographer definitely worth a close look.
Blanking out breasts in these images is indicative of American puritanical idiocy. It’s great and reassuring to see photographers from a range of cultures. Thanks for the video
@@TatianaHopper Yes you must comply. RU-vid is American owned. Artistic expression is stifled by a nation and its companies that maintain they have freedom of expression in one of their constitutional amendments. The rest of the world see’s the absurdity of their ‘constitutional rights’ vs their censorship. Thanks for the video. I will subscribe to your channel. 0:30
Thanks for this. Fukase is one of my favorite photographers and Ravens one of my favorite books. He greatly influenced my feelings and approach to photography. Some of his phots are banal, but so many are deeply moving.
@@TatianaHopper yeah, it’s more like three notes away (and in a different key) but it’s still so close, I had to go and listen before coming back to the video, sorry lol.
Though I have never heard of him before I'm very impressed with his body of work, however I'm saddened to see how his last days were spent. Thank you Tatiana for the introduction to his work and another excellent video. ❤😎
I know it’s quite a sad ending for such a life full of emotion, events, photos and creativity. I suppose life isn’t meant to be fair but at the end of the day we have his amazing work to represent his artistic capabilities!
Intriguing is a great word, I think that was how I felt when I first heard of his story, I was intrigued because I just knew it wasn't as simple as media outlets were portraying him and his story to be.
Just wanted to say thank you for introducing me to this photographer and his exceptional work! Your storytelling was also fantastic, he seems a fascinating character.
I have a personal question, I've been told that I should have a written statement introducing my essays "photo series" for people to read about the "back" story of the images. I have been reluctant to do so as I want the viewer to interact the images on a personal level related to their life experiences emotions, not to try and see them from "my" perspective. What is your recomendation thank you for stepping outside the lines on this but with your obvious talent at story telling and photography your thoughts are of value to me
I mean when you think about it, everything has an introduction when you go to an exhibition there’s a brief introduction printed somewhere in the beginning, same with most books, if it doesn’t work for you because you don’t want people’s vision to be influenced why don’t you just write an afterword. That way you still have something to present to people but after they’ve seen the photos you presented.
@@TatianaHopper Before we go any further ,I think it's time to put Ms. Hopper in the spotlight for her unfailing and stupendous choice in videos ! One always learns so much it is uncanny ! Carry on Ms.Hopper ! (And now back to the program )
HOLY SHIT !!! this is an artist that was so ffff far ahead of the world of photographic art !!!!! I feel that photography kept him alive, gave him life. This is the purest of story telling, fine art , pure art in my opinion. I is jarring, breath taking, beautiful dark happy simple and complex I am left gobsmacked !
Glad you enjoy his work David, definitely worth a more closer look if you're interested, I left some links and book references in the description, thank you for watching!
