此時此刻

Photographic creations are increasingly moving beyond pure image collections. Image works that combine text and music not only offer a different kind of experience but also bring viewers closer to the creator's state of mind and insights.

Rinko Kawauchi's latest photobook, "Ima Koko," guides readers through the beautiful poetry of Shuntaro Tanikawa and a 11-minute musical piece by singer-songwriter Ikuko Harada. Kawauchi personally selected numerous unpublished works taken at different times, including recent photographs and images preserved for twenty years. There are snippets from a trip to Alaska, moments of her children's growth, and of course, sparkling fragments of beautiful everyday life. Everything seems to transcend time, converging into a serene river in this book, leading readers to breathe deeply with the melody and embark on a journey of images, poetry, and music, immersing themselves in the warm light and shadow of daily life, embracing the beauty of life.

The creation of "Ima Koko" took two years. It began when Ikuko Harada met Shuntaro Tanikawa during a theater performance. At the time, Harada was looking for inspiration for her personal album when Tanikawa gave her the poem "Ima Koko," which deeply moved her. It was as if a light had been lit; not only did the path ahead become clear, but it also serendipitously led Harada to Rinko Kawauchi, with whom Tanikawa had collaborated multiple times. After visiting the "M/E: Infinite Chain of Spheres" photography exhibition, Harada bravely invited Kawauchi to participate in the creation, and Kawauchi enthusiastically agreed to this wonderful cross-genre collaboration.

"I don't photograph for any specific purpose, but I've kept many works taken instinctively and reflexively. Those photos seem to transcend time and find continuity here, which is very interesting, like my past self sending a gift to my present self. I realized that these photos were actually taken for this very work." — Rinko Kawauchi