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Motonori Shimizu, born in 1980, is a photographer based in Japan. After completing his university studies in Economics, Mr. Shimizu began his professional career as a businessman. This was when he started to develop an interest in photography and set out to learn the tricks of the trade by himself.
Mr. Shimizu's first project ‘Unstoppbale’ was created 2012, and received a Bronze prize at PX3 and a Honourable Mention at the International Photography Awards. The collection was exhibited at various international galleries and events in Los Angeles, Australia and Russia.
Mr. Shimizu's most recent project 'Individual' was inspired by the things left behind by the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake 4 years ago.
Website: http://m-shimizu.net/
Individual
Number of Death: 15,891.
Number of Missing: 2,584 (as of March 10, 2015).
4 years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
It has been recorded as a great disaster but it will not be long before it becomes history.
However, sadness and suffering have been engraved on the minds of the victims. Actually, there are 15,891 stories like ‘My son was killed by the collapsed house.’ There are 2,584 stories like ‘My wife has been missing since the Tsunami.’
The chances of hearing such stories from the victims have become rare by now.
One day, I had an opportunity to see the things left behind. When I saw them, I could not help imaging a variety of stories unfolding from them. So I decided to capture those things. And these works are the records of those ‘stories’.
Special thanks to:
HAZAMA ANDO CORPORATION / Namie, Fukushima
Kesennuma Recondact Association / Kesennuma, Miyagi
Minamisanriku Volunteer Center / Minamisanriku, Miyagi
Text and photography by Motonori Shimizu.