VIVO Collective: A Revolutionary Movement in Japanese Photography
Exploring the Vision and Legacy of the Iconic Group of Photographers
The VIVO collective was a groundbreaking group of photographers who emerged in Japan in the 1960s.
The collective sought to push the boundaries of traditional photography and explore new forms of artistic expression.
In this article, we will delve into the history and legacy of this iconic group of photographers and examine their impact on the world of Japanese photography.
Origins and Ideals
The VIVO collective was founded in 1959 by a group of seven young photographers, including Eikoh Hosoe, Ikko Narahara, and Shomei Tomatsu.
The collective was formed in response to what the members perceived as a stale and uninspired photographic landscape in post-war Japan.
The members of VIVO sought to create a new visual language that would reflect the changing social and cultural landscape of their country.
The name VIVO comes from the Latin word for “life,” and the members of the collective saw their work as an attempt to capture the vitality and energy of modern Japanese society. They were influenced by a range of artistic movements, including Surrealism and the American “New Vision” style of photography.
The group was also deeply influenced by the ideas of the French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, who argued that perception is an active, embodied process.
Themes and Techniques
The work of the VIVO collective is characterized by its focus on everyday life and the human condition.
The photographers sought to capture the energy and complexity of modern Japanese society, exploring themes such as identity, sexuality, and social inequality.
They often employed unconventional techniques, such as double exposures and collages, to create images that were layered and complex.
One of the most famous works produced by the VIVO collective was Eikoh Hosoe’s “Killed by Roses,” a collaboration with the writer Yukio Mishima.
The images in the book are highly symbolic, using roses to represent beauty, sexuality, and violence. The book is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and it has become a landmark work in the history of Japanese photography.
Legacy and Influence
The VIVO collective had a profound impact on the world of Japanese photography. Their work was innovative and daring, and it helped to usher in a new era of photographic expression in Japan.
The group’s focus on every day and the human condition was a departure from the more traditional forms of photography that had dominated Japan up to that point.
The legacy of the VIVO collective can be seen in the work of many contemporary Japanese photographers. The collective’s influence can be seen in the focus on social issues and everyday life that characterizes much of contemporary Japanese photography.
The group’s emphasis on experimentation and unconventional techniques has also influenced many younger photographers who seek to push the boundaries of traditional photographic expression.
The VIVO collective was a revolutionary movement in the history of Japanese photography. The group sought to create a new visual language that would reflect the changing social and cultural landscape of their country.
Their work was innovative and daring, and it helped to usher in a new era of photographic expression in Japan.
The legacy of the VIVO collective can be seen in the work of many contemporary Japanese photographers, and their influence continues to be felt in the world of photography today.
What lessons can we learn from the VIVO collective about the power of collective action in the arts, and how can we apply these lessons to other creative fields today?
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