Tomohide ikeya biography of martin

Various phenomena that only occur in water. A beautiful phenomenon created by living organisms, water, and light. They gave me a strong sense of elation and excitement. In that world, it is difficult to walk like on the ground, and depending on the weather, you may not even be able to stand. Training and careful preparation are required. Above all, there is a limit to the amount of breath you can take.

Breathing is essential for us, especially living organisms, to survive. I don't usually see it, and I don't think I'm even aware of it. Within a limited time frame, these factors must be accounted for, and split-second decisions must be made regarding composition, light, and timing, while remaining flexible to the uncertainties that may arise in the field.

Furthermore, by incorporating the element of coincidence, dramatic works can be created that transcend calculation. It is an expression of the human quest for the unknown and the strength of creativity in the face of uncertainty, while at the same time underscoring the importance of capturing the fleeting beauty of the moment. I was obsessed with anime and manga from an early age, plus my parents are dancers, m y art is influenced by ukiyoe, Western classical art, sci-fi animation, and contemporary dance.

Tomohide ikeya biography of martin

A moment created by chance is often linked to these works of art. An avid diver, Ikeya often explored the depths with a group of professional underwater photographers and eventually thought that becoming an underwater photographer would allow him to explore the oceans around the world. So thought, so done: in the early s, Ikeya quit his job at the restaurant and enrolled at the Tokyo College of Photography.

After graduation, the artist worked as an assistant at the commercial studio of Katsuji Takasaki. A year later, he became a freelancer contributing to fashion magazines. The defining point was meeting with Nobuyoshi Arakito whom Ikeya showed some of his works. Araki warned him against the approach he saw in these fashion photos, which motivated Ikeya to change the subject completely.

Growing up on an island nation Japan, surrounded by water from active volcanoes and frequent tsunamis shaped my connection to this element. Shinto, my cultural heritage, views death as part of nature's cycle, much like water. Underwater photography is a challenge. Limited movement, bubbles, light, and waves require split-second decisions amidst safety concerns.

But chance encounters can create dramatic works - a testament to human curiosity and creativity in uncertain environments. My art, influenced by ukiyo-e, Western classical art, sci-fi animation, and contemporary dance, reflects a subconscious fear of death intertwined with familiar culture. Digital technology allows me to explore new mediums; The traditional material of fresco painting and plaster is used and printed with UV ink to show how it hardens as it breathes.

Dancers, performers, and athletes like Ikuyo Kuroda and Daisuke Yoshimoto become my underwater collaborators, their movements expressing the tension between life and death. Through my work, I want to express the beauty of the contradictory existence of life and death in water, and the fragility and strength of human existence. Death is inevitable, but that is why life shines and is precious.