Photographer, born in Tokyo in 1980. Many solo and group exhibitions, "Imperfect Cat" "Time to go back...to the moon."including those held not only in Japan but also in Milan and Shanghai.
Has shown at group exhibitions in Los Angeles, Barcelona and Hong Kong, and staged a solo 5 month-long solo exhibition in Milan over 2012 - 2013.
Assembled a special collection of works for the june 2013 feature issue of TEiCAM BOOKS, a free magazine in Paris.
Awards
2008 Nikon salon Jun Miki encouragement award
2018 43th The Ina Nobuo Award
2019 Photographic Society of Japan Newcomer's Award
The women featured in Kawori Inbe's photography often appear before her in crucial moments of their lives, amidst significant life changes, ongoing problems, or unresolved worries.
Being photographed is an act of expression, and Inbe thinks that many women who are photographed have something to convey. Even if it has on negative aspects, the urge to express oneself may be particularly unique to women, which is why Inbe is drawn to taking photos images of women.
The title of the photobook, "Imperfect Cat," is a line spoken by a perpetrator in a certain incident. In October 2017, a man employed as a temporary teacher at a high school in Kitakyushu, Japan, was accused of killing his pet cats one after another and disposing of a total of 20 cats as burning garbage. Explaining his motive, the man claimed, "I killed them because they didn't meet my idea of the perfect cat, elaborating that a perfect cat should respond when called, allow touching, and use the litter box properly."
Upon hearing this line, Inbe was struck by an indescribable shock, feeling it succinctly encapsulated the essence of Japan's educational system and society in one sentence, with the perpetrator being a teacher adding a darkly ironic twist.
It is inherently unreasonable to demand obedience from a free-spirited cat, and the notion of a "Perfect Cat" simply doesn't exist in the feline realm.
However, for humans, it's often easier to adopt the role of someone else's ideal rather than staying authentic to oneself. Society is full of people who emulate the "Perfect Cat" And when one fails to conform the "Perfect Cat" or attempts to escape from being one, they may risk being metaphorically "killed" by society.
In today's society, uncovering one's genuine thoughts is a daunting task. If one let their guard down, they might end up speaking words they've heard elsewhere as if they were their own thoughts..
The photographs featured in "Imperfect Cat" are created through conversations between the subjects and Kawori Inbe. During these exchanges, unique expressions and values emerge, vividly showcasing the individual's presence.
Within the realm of photography, the subject especially women, has long been perceived as subordinate to the photographer in terms of creativity. Similarly, photography itself is sometimes relegated to a mere documentary or record status, placed lower in the art hierarchy. Inbe's work challenges these hierarchical norms, opening up new avenues for photographic expression beyond the conventional roles of creator and subject, performer and recorder.
Photographer, born in Tokyo in 1980. Many solo and group exhibitions, "Imperfect Cat" "Time to go back...to the moon."including those held not only in Japan but also in Milan and Shanghai.
Has shown at group exhibitions in Los Angeles, Barcelona and Hong Kong, and staged a solo 5 month-long solo exhibition in Milan over 2012 - 2013.
Assembled a special collection of works for the june 2013 feature issue of TEiCAM BOOKS, a free magazine in Paris.
Awards
2008 Nikon salon Jun Miki encouragement award
2018 43th The Ina Nobuo Award
2019 Photographic Society of Japan Newcomer's Award
