PHOTOGRAPHER HAL

ARTIST

PHOTOGRAPHER HAL 川口晴彦

Introduction

Bathtubs, couples, love and challenge are strong themes throughout this artist’s work with other key elements including individuality, style, communication and intimacy.
Photographer Hal brings complete strangers to his confined, crucible like spaces only to convey his continuing theme of ‘love of the couple’. The initial title Pinky & Killer used a small space or room to capture the willing couples, soon followed by the title Couple Jam which brought the focus even closer to the subjects who were placed in a bathtub together. “I am currently seeking new dimensions in portrait photography by challenging the majestic theme of mankind, defined through love.” Photographer Hal’s latest project is called Flesh Love All, which captures not only the couples but also all the surroundings in vacuum sealed package to create an image where everything in the world becomes one.The photographic location is the most important place for them.

略歴

1971年東京生まれ。大学でメカを学ぶ。2004 年よりカップルを撮り始める。
2014年 Breda Photo (オランダ) 特別招待作家。

Background

Born, educated and currently residing in Tokyo.
Living through my university days I was starving for encounters with different people from other cultures around the world. As soon as I had the opportunity I left Japan and began my travels with a special focus on the Middle East and India. It was here that I first became aware of my passion for photography. The camera became the key to overcoming shyness and limited local language abilities and I could in some way communicate with the people I met. After graduating from university I joined an advertising production company in Tokyo and this enabled me to acquire a much wider set of photographic skills. The assignments were varied and unique including celebrities and established fashion icons. It was the crucible of my technical ability and the focus in my work soon became the people.
Theme
“I want to capture love as it really is and the bathtub is an ideal vehicle to encapsulate the vivid reality in my images. A grand theme in mankind is Love, and I, Photographer Hal, am challenging the majestic theme!”
“Those in power are continually guilty of segregation and discrimination, can we realize peace under such conditions? You who are standing on the earth, no matter where you are, love the person in front of you. From two people to a group, a town to a community, a city to a country, from border to border, the ring of love shall prevail. I have started to create my ring of love in the city of Tokyo, believing that some day a world peace without segregation and discrimination will come true.”
Subjects
Through the medium of photography, the couple has become Photographer Hal’s chosen vehicle to express the principle theme of world love, this will of course require a search to find subjects who are willing to participate. “I go to Kabukicho in Shinjuku, underground bars in Shibuya and many other places which are full of activity like luscious night time bee-hives. When I see a couple of interest I will begin to negotiate. I’m sure that many people initially think of my proposal as unusual or even look through me like I am completely invisible, but I always push
forward with my challenge to them. The models appear from all walks of life and individually have included musicians, dancers, strippers, laborers, restaurant and bar managers, photographers, businessmen and women, unsettled and unemployed, et al. As a couple, I have photographed a wide variety of variables which include being young and old, from the same or opposite sex, of different race, having different styles, girls from the north and men from the south and many others who have been willing to participate. There have been occasions when the situation has become complicated, for example if a couple have disagreements, begin to argue or even fight! There are also the inevitable no-shows and the couples who split up before I can complete the images. On one assignment I had to visit a prison later to obtain permission for the final print. Happily though, for the most part I’ve had many joyful moments with many interesting scenes to capture. There was even a couple who married soon after one event, and it all began in a bathtub! ”
Photographic Style
“In my early explorations I used to capture the models in a small room or enclosed space, these images can be seen in the photo books called Pinky & Killer, and Pinky & Killer DX. During the photo session I often prompt the couple to pose as if they’re in a sticker photo booth, an extension of the regular passport type which cause friends to pose in many alternative and fun ways.

Projects

It is my desire to have solo exhibits with the title Flesh Love All in the world . With Love.

Hal Statement

It is my desire to henceforth spread the works and name of Photographer Hal globally,
with love!

Solo Exhibition

2021 Washing Machine, Gallery Tosei, Tokyo
2020 Flesh Love All, Gallery Tosei, Tokyo
2020 TIIDA, Gallery Tosei, Tokyo
2019 YOKO, Gallery Tosei, Tokyo
2018 Flesh Love All,Studio Bizio, Edinburgh,UK
2018 Flesh Love All,Licence Art Gallery, Tainan, Taiwan
2018 Flesh Love All,1839 Contemporaray Gallery, Taipei Taiwan
2017 Flesh Love Returns, Place M,Tokyo
2017 HALO, Gallery Tosei, Tokyo
2016 Exposure#08, Mimosa,Tokyo
2015 HAL, Ibasho Gallery, Antwerp,Belgium
2015 ?, Gallery Tosei, Tokyo
2014 Zatsuran, Nikon Salon, Tokyo
2013 Flesh Love, 1839 Contemporaray Gallery, Taipei Taiwan
2013 Couple Jam, Anderson Gallery,MA,USA
2013 Flesh Love, Vague, Tokyo
2012 Flesh Love, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland USA
2012 Flesh Love, Gallery Tanto Tempo, Kobe,Japan
2011 Flesh Love, Gallery Tosei, Tokyo
2011 Bath Romance, Shinjuku, Tokyo
2011 Flesh Love, Nikon Salon, Tokyo
2009 Couple Jam, Gallery Tosei, Tokyo
2008 Pinky & Killer DX, Mememachine Gallery, Shibuya, Tokyo
2005 Pinky & Killer Golden, Nagune, Golden Town, Shinjuku, Tokyo
2000 Funky. Rosso, Harajuku Tokyo

Group Exhibition

2020 See You Again,Galerie Monika Wertheimer,Basel, Switzerland
2019 Lost in Japan,Galerie Monika Wertheimer,Basel, Switzerland
2018 Japan Naakt,Siebolthuis,Leiden,Netherlands
2018 The Curious Obsession,See+,Beijing,China
2018 HAUTE PHOTOGRAPHIE STOCKHOLM/FOTOGRAFISKA,Stockholm,Sweden
2017 Beyond the visility,1839 Contemporaray Gallery, Taipei Taiwan
2016 Summer Exhibition, Ibasho Gallery, Antwerp,Belgium
2015 Shibuya Eggs Sayonara City Hall, Tokyo
2014 Image-Makers, 21_21 Design Sight, Tokyo
2014 JAPON, Abbaye St Andre Centre d’art contemporain,France
2013 Transfomer.The Body Remixed, Gallery SAW Gallery, Ottawa Canada
2013 Sanfrancisco International Photography Exhibition, Studio 17,USA
2012 new directions – crossing territories, Wall Space Gallery, Seattle USA
2012 IAM HEATH CLIFF, Daine Singer, Melbourne,Australia
2012 Love Love Show, Tomonotsu Museum, Hiroshima,Japan
2012 new directions – crossing territories, Wall Space Gallery, Santa Barbara USA 2010 Recontres d’Arles, Arles,France
2010 Group Exhibition. Sound of Photography,Seibu,Shibuya,Tokyo
2009 Group Exhibition.Jeune Photographie Japonaise, Galerie de la Gare,Paris,France

Art Fair

2019 Photo Basel,Basel,Switzerland
2019 MIA fAIR MILANO,Italy
2017 MIA fAIR MILANO,Italy
2016 Photo London, UK
2015 UNSEEN, Amsterdam
2014 Bleda Photo, Bleda,Netherlands
2012 TAIWAN PHOTO, Taiwan
2012 Snap! Orland, USA
2011 Nofound photofair, Paris,France
2011 Art Fair Tokyo, Tokyo
2010 PHOTO OFF, Paris,France
2008 Paris Photo

Plize

2020 Photo lucuda (USA) Top 50 photographer
2020 Prix de la Photographey, 2nd Plize
2017 MOPLA (USA), Serected
2017 Prix de la Photographey, Honorable Mention
2016 Sony World Photography Awards, Finalist
2016 International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention
2015 London International Creative Competition, Finalist
2014 Prix de la Photographey, 3rd Plize,
2013 International Photography Awards, Honorable Mention
2012 Prix de la Photographey, 2nd Plize
2012 Prix de la Photographey, 3rd Plize,
2011 Art of Photographey Show,1st Plize,
2011 Prix de la Photographey, Honorable Mention

Collection

2011 JAPIGOZZI COLLECTION, Flesh Love
2009 JAPIGOZZI COLLECTION, Couple Jam

Publications

2016 Flesh Love Returns Publication. Publisher – Tosei-sha, Tokyo
2015 43 Publication. Publisher – Self, Tokyo
2014 Zatsuran Publication. Publisher – Tosei-sha, Tokyo
2011 Flesh Love Publication. Publisher – Tosei-sha, Tokyo
2011 Flesh Love for i pad Application
2009 Couple Jam Publication. Publisher – Tosei-sha, Tokyo
2007 Pinky & Killer DX Publication. Publisher – Tosei-sha, Tokyo
2004 Pinky & Killer Publication. Publisher – Self, Tokyo

www.photographerhal.com