Pinhole series photographed in the Tokachi Region of Hokkaido, Japan. Focusing on local community members, pinhole cameras were made from materials and objects available in the subjects' workspace and photographed with on-site.
In the Hokkaido dialect the word
azuru / あずる implies the notion of a struggle. The title alludes to the improvisational nature of resourcefully crafting cameras that did not always yield the desired result; as well as the creation of itinerant darkrooms that were a vital part of the project experience.
Sponsored in part by Asian Improv aRts Midwest and the Tokachi International Cultural Exchange Center as part of the
Chicago Obihiro Exchange Project,
initiated to cultivate international dialogue between contemporary artists from Japan and Chicago.
gelatin silver prints
2019