A Distant Shore
Komatsu Toru
Place M
English
Softbook
88 pages
250 x 250 mm
112 pages
2016
“Since the time of the Great East Japan earthquake of 2011, I have continued to photograph trees located in places that suffered damage from the earthquake and Tsunami. In taking these photographs, I gradually became aware of rocky crags that seemed to be like islands floating on the land. For the most part, pine trees grow on these crags, which are landlocked, but which once had probably been surrounded by the sea.
These crags are generally cordoned off by a ceremonial rope, and are treated as holy areas. An island floating on the sea, and island trapped by land, an island floating on the land… each is an interesting subject.
I imagine that an island floating on the land, still hasn’t forgotten the ocean that once surrounded it, even if the sea is now many miles away.”
– Komatsu Toru
(Source: https://www.shashasha.co/en/book/a-distant-shore)
About the Artist
Born in Miyagi, Japan in 1969, he graduated from Tama Art University in 1994 with a degree in Fine Arts.
He is a photographer, director of TokyoLightroom Printing, and a member of RED Photo Gallery.
(Source: https://www.shashasha.co/en/artist/toru-komatsu)
About the Publisher
It is a place for experimentation in photography run by photographers Nobuhiko Ohno, Toru Komatsu, Masato Seto, Hiroyasu Nakai, Daido Moriyama, and others. In addition to gallery rentals and special exhibitions, the gallery is always open to the public through activities such as the “Night Photography School,” a photography workshop for thinking about photography and creating artwork, practical darkroom workshops, and darkroom rentals.
Since its opening in 1987, the center has served as a venue for the expression and presentation of photography and video, and has newly installed video equipment. In the future, we will hold screenings welcoming video artists and widely invite young artists to show their works. We will continue to explore the possibilities of photography and video and challenge new forms of expression that transcend boundaries.
(Source: https://www.shashasha.co/en/publisher/place-m)
