The first installment of "THE ROAD," a series of landscapes captured by photographer Hidenobu Kasahara during his travels around Italy, will be held online: the Verona edition.
Kasahara originally worked for an automobile manufacturer. He then entered the world of design, working as an art director on a variety of projects, from editorial to advertising, and his desire for clearer imagery led him to develop his talent as a photographer.
His photography is strong and dramatic, yet simultaneously expresses the suppleness, delicacy, and softness of his subjects. His artwork evolves daily, drawing on the experiences he has cultivated.
Why is he, who wears two hats as an art director and photographer, presenting the travel photographs he has taken day and night without getting bored, as he pleases?
After traveling around Italy from north to south, Kasahara's heart was captured by Verona in the western Veneto region. The cityscape, located halfway between Milan and Venice, is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the "City of Verona." It is also the birthplace of "Romeo and Juliet," famous for the line "Ah, Romeo...where art thou Romeo?", so well known that no one is unaware of it. He continued to take photos frantically while walking through the streets of this truly beautiful old Italy.
Buildings line the streets, as if to match the curves of the winding road. Historic buildings, quintessentially architectural art, and bustling markets and restaurants aren't simply lined up in an orderly fashion; they exist in harmony with the road's shape. It's as if the road itself is the star of the show.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly accelerated the shift to remote work, there are certainly still things we cherish as analogue moments, like casual conversations with others or spending time admiring roadside flowers. "THE ROAD" is a story woven by roads, people, and cities, as if these feelings intersect.
Kashihara Hidenobu's art-like photography, capturing a quiet and warm atmosphere, is a must-see. Our road continues as we look to the past, present, and future.
"THE ROAD - in Verona"
https://hidenobu.com/the_road/
photo: Hidenobu Kasahara
text: Tomomi Tanuma
Kasahara originally worked for an automobile manufacturer. He then entered the world of design, working as an art director on a variety of projects, from editorial to advertising, and his desire for clearer imagery led him to develop his talent as a photographer.
His photography is strong and dramatic, yet simultaneously expresses the suppleness, delicacy, and softness of his subjects. His artwork evolves daily, drawing on the experiences he has cultivated.
Why is he, who wears two hats as an art director and photographer, presenting the travel photographs he has taken day and night without getting bored, as he pleases?
"COVID-19 has had a huge impact. I think there have been many people who have felt the conflict of wanting to travel but felt they had to "hold back." But I feel like we're finally starting to feel like we're finally emerging from the long, long tunnel we've been in."
"I can't deny that there's a certain social climate where people feel like they're being stigmatized, like, 'You're going on a trip?!' But I don't think you should give up on your desire to travel. I wanted to inspire that desire, even just a little. And of course, there are people who can't go outside for various reasons, so one of the reasons I came up with this was that I thought it might be a way to "relax" and have fun in the future."
After traveling around Italy from north to south, Kasahara's heart was captured by Verona in the western Veneto region. The cityscape, located halfway between Milan and Venice, is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the "City of Verona." It is also the birthplace of "Romeo and Juliet," famous for the line "Ah, Romeo...where art thou Romeo?", so well known that no one is unaware of it. He continued to take photos frantically while walking through the streets of this truly beautiful old Italy.
Buildings line the streets, as if to match the curves of the winding road. Historic buildings, quintessentially architectural art, and bustling markets and restaurants aren't simply lined up in an orderly fashion; they exist in harmony with the road's shape. It's as if the road itself is the star of the show.
"The buildings and roads coexist beautifully. Everything was so beautiful I didn't want to miss a shot, so I must have been staring at the scenery through my viewfinder. I was absorbed in the charm of Verona's roads. I just kept pressing the shutter."
While the COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly accelerated the shift to remote work, there are certainly still things we cherish as analogue moments, like casual conversations with others or spending time admiring roadside flowers. "THE ROAD" is a story woven by roads, people, and cities, as if these feelings intersect.
Kashihara Hidenobu's art-like photography, capturing a quiet and warm atmosphere, is a must-see. Our road continues as we look to the past, present, and future.
"THE ROAD - in Verona"
https://hidenobu.com/the_road/
photo: Hidenobu Kasahara
text: Tomomi Tanuma
