プライベート・チャイナ

　　　　　　　旅の記憶

Embarking on a journey back to a place once visited, I encounter the shadow of myself I left behind. In the narrow alleys of Kai Feng, on the streets of Beijing, I find the version of myself that was once lost. On the long-distance sleeper train from Guangzhou to Zhengzhou, I witness my bewildered self from thirteen years ago, communicating through gestures. The vivid "moments" captured in the unconscious are summoned, sending a shiver down my spine.

Imagination runs wild. What kind of life has the forsaken shadow led? Has it been bitter or filled with joy? I realize that I'm consumed with thoughts about the shadow.

"Don't dwell on it. Entrust the journey to the camera." The rails produce a rhythmic sound. An old yet new Star Ferry, the depth of the Green Sea, the white trail of a high-speed boat, today's meal, a stomachache, a young couple at the barber negotiating prices.

Having diligently etched the journey in this way, I once again encounter the abandoned shadow in the lanes of Luoyang. This time, in an empty alley, I unabashedly snapped the shutter.

At that moment, I thought my private China had become a memory of the journey, playing out a different narrative. With a somewhat relieved feeling, I hurried to the station in the twilight.

プライベート・チャイナ・旅の記憶

初出

2011年11月5日　オリンパスギャラリー東京　オリンパスギャラリ－大阪