Gomma Photography Grant 2024
Mediums
Photographer
Tomoaki Hata
Mediums
19 Jan, 2025
This series is inspired by the history of photography, which began in the mid-19th century, and the ideas of spiritualism that arose with it. The scientific aspect of photography is that it proves the existence of subjects. This aspect has been used as the most important function of photography until now in the 21st century. On the other hand, it is fair to say that photography based on spiritualism was a completely different scientific approach, trying to prove something that does not exist. This series is an attempt to once again revive this now completely overlooked perspective in the 21st century.
About the photographer
Tomoaki Hata
Tomoaki Hata has been a photographic artist with over 25 years of experience. He started his career as a wedding photographer to make ends meet while studying sociology and media studies in a graduate school doctoral program. At the same time, he documented Japan's hidden underground subculture, the Japanese drag queens’ ball room scene, BDSM lovers' parties, burlesque, etc. His documentation was highly acclaimed and published in Japan and the US in 2010. From a sociological and anthropological perspective, he specializes in documenting cultural events that have been overlooked by the general public. At the same time, he has used his vast knowledge of modern Japanese cultural events to engage in projects such as the compilation of a history of Japanese photography. He is currently based in New York and Japan, where he is working on numerous projects.
