
Absentee
- Publisher
- the(M) éditions / IBASHO
- Year
- 2022
- ISBN
- 979-10-95424-35-2
- Specifications
- 14.6 x 18 cm
122 pages
Limited edition of 500 numbered copies + 30 deluxe copies (unique print)
Photographs by Sayuri Ichida
Design by Tomasz Laczny
Co-published by the(M) éditions and IBASHO
In this series of images, Sayuri Ichida is interested in the temporality of our existence. This work is centred on her own body, juxtaposed with everyday objects to which we pay little attention. The boundary between the figure and man-made objects tends to disappear, creating confusion. This body of work is an evocative representation of a feeling of detachment, of an absence, of self and reality. "After I lost my mother in my late teens, I shielded myself from thoughts about death. However, the psychological impact of the global pandemic triggered a period of grief and mourning. Creating this series enabled me to overcome emotional difficulties such as uncertainty and anxiety caused by the reminder of death. Objects gradually reveal their presence, alluding to varying emotional states. The visual dichotomy between the curves of the body and the harsh artificial lines found in man-made objects reflect ways in which my emotional state fluctuates between calmness and anxiety. We have a tendency to neglect our own mortality. Our attempts to evade death thoughts are inevitably challenged, and we are forced to acknowledge our own fragility. A visceral recognition surfaces at times, reminding us of the transience of life."