Ryusei no Shima

Naoki Ishikawa

SUPER LABO

20.3 x 15 cm
144 Pages
107 Images(color)
Hard cover patly clothbound
Full color Offset
Limited edition of 800
Published in 2018
ISBN 978-4-908512-25-4

The Tokara Islands became the gateway to an island universe for me.The first time I saw a ceremony embodying the joy-bringing spirit (Mare bi to) that comes from far across the sea was at Akusekishima in the Tokara Islands. That experience was a trigger for me to continue recording religious festivals which are strongly influenced by the view of life and death in the southern islands.
Islands isolated geographically are divided by the sea. At the same time, they are also connected by the sea. Stars floating in the universe comprise constellations, while at the same time, each of them has its own, unique name and shines individually. However, at the very moment when I try to add some meaning to islands and stars, they disappear. I am still not sure if I can take photos of stars as they are, and show what I see on the islands as it is. But I would like to take photos of the radiating light from people living on the islands before I fall into the darkness inside thoughts.