Group 4, Nakayoshinri, Goes to 247 Roonee Gallery

 Early this past Summer, our group went a show called “the proof of love’(愛の証明）by Teruya Inaba. The direction of this gallery was really hard to find because it was in the really minor street in Yotsuya. The gallery was smaller than I thought (actually it was only a one-room-gallery), but it had a lot of pictures that made me happy and excited...

‘The proof of love’ was held at the gallery ‘Roonee 247 photography’ in Yotsuya. The gallery was located about 10 minutes walk from Yotsuya 3chome station. It was in the quiet street in Yotsuya 4chome. There were a lot of houses in the street. Because it was behind the main street, if we did not pay much attention, we may overlook the gallery...

The gallery is located in a quiet street near Yotsuya-sanchome station. The outward appearance of the building is so subdued that we could fail to notice its existence unless we carefully pay attention. Inside of the building, there is a small and calm room...

This exhibition was held by Inaba Teruya. He was born at Yokohama in 1970.  After he graduates Meiji University, he entered Japan Photograph Academy and study about photograph there. The concept of the exhibition is expressing his love for his family, daily life, plants, his life and the world. Twenty seven photographs taken by Teruya Inaba are displayed on the wall of the room. All photographs are colored and 6×6 format. Teruya Inaba has been acting as a photographer for 10 years...

He sized the photographs to make viewers think they are looking into his garden. In fact, the white margin outside the photographs and the photographs’ contrast made viewers feel looking into his garden. The white margin is like a window. By doing so, he intended to make viewers feel his galley fan...

The gallery was full of warm atmosphere which the photographs release.  Flowers, fruit being beard on the trees at the garden, greenery on flowerpots and ground. The flowers were orange, red, pink, white, violet and yellow. They were hibiscuses, poinsettia, violets, hydrangeas, sunflowers and citruses. On the picture there was purple printing ink which was used to express the dark black colors. He said “This photo is the proof of his love for his family, nature, world, life, normal days, and photograph.”  He told that he wanted us to feel something about his small world and enjoy.A person who knows Inaba well says” His charm is his work which shows pure delight of new discovery.” “Please look at not only what is taken but also photo itself and enjoy.”...

From Inaba’s website, he said that the pictures represent the love for his family, lifestyle, plants, life, world, and his photographs. Even though each picture　is small, viewers can feel the strangeness of love for each subject　because all of them have a object that is highly focused in the center.　Also, blurry edges makes the viewers feel like being caught into the pictures and be focused on the subject...

Relating to his theme, he left messages on the desk of the gallery. According to it, for him: "Love is seeing, thinking and desire to know. Summer is light and shade and the sexy season in which the contrast between life and death is extreme. The garden in his house is one of the windows to outside. The neighborhood wayside is an edge to the outside world. Flowers are creatures which move very slowly, is taciturn, strong, formidable and soft. Taking pictures is a way to prove love. A family is where one comes from. Daily things are the world and the time which is seen as a succession. The world is a existence in people's cognition. Proof of love itself has no sense and reason. Having fun is dancing. Exhibiting is something like an initiation to celebrate and dedicate harvest"...

I thought his photographs were deep and fantastical. At first, I felt photographs had depth; I got an impression as if I had looked at 3-D pictures. The focus plays very effective role. Also, each picture has both parts of light and shadow. Actually, there were dreamy atmosphere about those photographs. The tones of his photographs are fantastical. For example, vividly colored petals are striking by making a comparison with dark colored blades behind them. Shaded blades reminded me of the rough touch of a paint brush, so I think his pictures are like paintings...

This gallery shows Inaba's unique personality. In fact, when I left the gallery, I didn't think that I passionately wanted to go back again. However, now I feel like going to the gallery again and looking at the photographs more. I think it's strange and amazing. 

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