Artist Statement

A common interpretation of the term “post” could be described as “after”. After being what occurs after a certain point in time. A shift. A change. There is a clear before and a clear after.

It can be said that every place has its own character. My teaching career has allowed me to live in and experience a variety of cities all over the world. Cities that have rich, distinct cultural histories and flavors. Cities that are diverse in traditions and looks. However, as cities modernize and grow, they all begin to look the same. Glass-plated skyscrapers in Istanbul look the same as those in Bangkok. Going into some areas in Tokyo that would make you think you are in New York. Buildings look the same. Furniture looks the same. People are dressed the same. The world seems to be quickly shedding cultural diversity and distinction for for a clean, soulless and interchangeable facade of glass and steel. The rich diversity of once was is disappearing, with the after being conformity and sameness.

Despite this new sense of modern global conformity, there are moments of traditional and cultural distinction that remain.  As I wander the streets near my home in Tokyo, it never fails that I come across a small Shinto shrine. As a foreigner, I don’t know what these small shrines mean, who they are dedicated to and what significance they have. What fascinates me that even though Tokyo is one of the most modern and advanced cities in the world, there is still an honoring of tradition and the past in the architecture of these small holy places. They are often hidden away in corners, alleys, or wedged between skyscrapers. They represent how the past and tradition are honored here. It brings up the question of much of what was before remains in the after. In many ways they are a small escape from this post-traditionalist bubble.

This small collection of images is from a larger body of work in which I have been documenting these small shrines I encounter in Tokyo. My goal is not to document them for posterity’s sake, but rather document the small moments of respect for the past and the distinct and mysterious culture I am privileged to live. Through these images I seek to explore the relationship between the modern and the traditional and how that even though we enter into a “post” state, there is always a remainder of the past and tradition. These images intentionally juxtapose the modern and traditional elements of the city as a means to understand how despite the world’s move toward an after of conformist modernity, elements of the traditional before remain. 

The images are intentionally unnamed for two reasons. First, I can’t speak or write Japanese, so I couldn’t accurately name and title them even if I wanted to. Second, I desire for the viewer to experience the same sense of mysterious awe I feel from experience these small moments of traditionalism in a sea of modern sameness and ponder can if we can ever truly loose ourselves of the before as plunge to the after.