“Tofu-Knife” by Kohei Kawatani
Tokyo-based photographer Kohei Kawatani recently dropped his latest photobook ‘Tofu Knife’, delving into an exploration of the plasticity of digital photography, Japanese photography culture, and, contemporary expressions.
Growing up in Shimane Japan, Kawatani didn’t get many opportunities to dive into art. However, his passion for photography sparked during his high school days when he stumbled upon an exhibition showcasing Ikko Narahara’ work. “I was struck by one of the black and white prints, and was convinced that photography has a power that no other medium has,’ he recalled.
The inception of “Tofu Knife” sprouted from Kawatani’s curiosity and his desire to explore the plasticity in digital photography. The first dummy version of the book is intended to be for a submission of ‘Dummy Books Award’ but it has evolved into a real photobook with the help from the designer, Toru Kase.
Kawatani consistently uses fill flash to photograph the object, aiming to blur the line between reality and imitation. He shares, “I was intrigued by the idea of shooting a common object to make it look as if it was a fake. I show in this book the real thing that looks fake and things that were made to imitate something in the same way.”
This collection spans from 2016 to 2020 encapsulating period marked by societal upheavals. Kawatani believes a photobook should serves as a time capsule for future generations, providing a glimpse into the unique challenges of that era. He muses, “I don’t know what message those people will take from this photobook but I just want to convey it through my own lens.”
