Female Japanese photographer

R

RML

Guest
I've been raking my brain but can't come up with the name of a (then) young female Japanese photographer. She had a short article in about 2002(?) in American Photo. The photos that struck me most were the highly staged and choreographed photos of almost plastic looking models dressed in brightly coloured clothes and looking like Barbie dolls. I once knew her name but have completely forgotten. Somehow "kawa" or "yama" pop up when I try to remember her name but I can't place these fragments.

Anyone any idea?
 
I guess we shouldn't critisize the taste of others, but I agree with Bill. I hate it. I agreed even more after reading her bio. "Shakespear said that the world is a stage on which we're all players. I preform through the lens." It's just me but it seems like chooseing to quote a writter who recreated real life in his plays when her photos could not be further from real. They're "hyper-real."

Also, I don't like the fact that her bio describes her technique and style as diverse. It's not. Her photos go beyond the realm of style and into the realm of conformity. The colors are great though, there is no way I could do that. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I was going to hire a conceptual artist for an ad, it wouldn't be her.
 
I think I kind of dig it. To me, it shows considerable effort and consistency of approach, which I can respect. Technically impressive.

Then again, perhaps I just have a thing for saturated color and staged product photography. I will say, though, that her "people" portfolio suggests some not-insignificant level of rapport with her subjects. There's something to be said, there.

Thanks for the thread - very interesting.


Cheers,
--joe.
 
I'd be a happy bunny if I could takes shots as good as hers. The people and fashion stuff is particularly good IMHO - at bit too clinical, but I can appreciate the result.
 
I don't like her photos - although I was expecting utter abominations from the comments above - which they are not. Her style is quite accomplished and particularly suited for what she does (mostly fashion and advertising) what with the use of (intentionally) garish colours and harsh light. The advertising world seems more often than not to be in search of ways to shock and dismay in order to grab attention. A kind of photography that is the inverse of what one would expect (or even want) to see, succeeds in at least that respect. But as for the artistic pretentions...oh ,well...I don't know, I am not impressed like most others here.
 
Enjoy Diversity.

There are often dance shows near me, textile exhibitions and contemporary music concerts. I see them all and enjoy them all.
Click to expand...

I try to enjoy only the good ones.

"Beyond a certain point, an open mind is every bit as good as no mind at all." -- Jean Cocteau


PS -- I kind of liked the photos, although I wouldn't be interested in doing something like that myself; in fact, I liked some of them a lot. There was one in the fashion section, of a model in a red dress climbing a flight of steps toward a puff of smoke, that would be worth hanging on the wall.
 
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I see influences of Guy Bourdin and David LaChappelle in her work, photogs that I like. When I saw her work for the first time in American Photo, I was rather impressed with what she had done. I like that kind of gimmicky, comic-book style, weird, "Japanese" stuff. It's everything I'm not so perhaps that's where the interest comes from. 🙂
 
Funny that.

RML asks about a 'female Japanese photographer'. There could be millions.

And Greyhoundman hits it bang on.

How about that for having a very distinctive portfolio?? Looks like Kawakita's is certainly distinctive, even if the elements of distinction aren't to everyone's taste.

Whatever. She arouses an emotional reaction.

Some of you guys should be pleased with yourself - you're now emotionally connected when you are able to say: "I hate her work!"

Miffy

xoxoxo

I have a bog. I am a blog

http://carrotblog.livejournal.com
 
Carrotblog said:
Funny that.

RML asks about a 'female Japanese photographer'. There could be millions.

And Greyhoundman hits it bang on.
Click to expand...

Yea, I was going to comment on that myself. 🙂

While there was nothing in her gallery that I would purchase to hang on my walls, I did like the pop feel. The anime/pop overtones showed a distinct style.
 
Carrotblog said:
"I ate a Maki roll yesterday for dinner 🙂"

And we really don't need silly puerile comments making fun of people's names.
Click to expand...


Coming out swinging are we?
Speaking of style I checked out the photos on your blog. Very Nice.

Hope to see more.

Sorry for the digression, everyone return to what you were doing.
 
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