Somewhere other than here, the longing for the Silk Road

In Uzbekistan, I encountered the cities along the Silk Road that I had always dreamed of visiting someday. The city surrounded by old walls and the lives of its people, the smiles of children, the beautiful tiles with beautiful patterns and the colors of mosques and madreses, the ancient ruins buried in the desert, prayer, food, heat, dryness, and the harsh sunlight burnt them. I was able to photograph the beautifullight that fell on the dry land,  giving it a shadow that looked like it had been washed away.   

While traveling through Uzbekistan, I also thought about Japan's rich natural water and greenery, the flowers and culture that bloom in each season, the local lifestyle, faith, and cities which connects to the eastern end of the Silk Road.

Since ancient times, the Silk Road has been a trade route crossed by camels, where not only cultural artifacts were exchanged, but also the hearts and feelings entrusted to travelers were exchanged in the form of religion and culture. I believe that such exchange is the message to modern society that connects the world and creates future peace.

Through this photo exhibition, we hope that by juxtaposing the soul landscapes of Uzbekistan and Japan in one venue, it will be a way for us to touch each other's souls and build a future.

I would like to express my gratitude to all involved in holding this photo exhibition at the wonderful venue of Ikuo Hirayama Caravan-sarai. And, like Mr. Ikuo Hirayama, I would like to continue to search for new colors of light in my future travels.

Photographer

Takaaki INADA

Silk Road filled with Colors 

～Soul Landscape from Uzbekistan to Japan～

Hakubi Center, Kyoto University

Associate Professor

Takuya SOMA

 彩りのシルクロード

 ～ウズベキスタンと日本の原風景～

　ウズベキスタンと日本には、シルクロードで結び合わされた確かなつながりがあります。本写真展では、ウズベキスタンと日本の原風景を、旅路でめぐり合う景色や人物、旅情と心模様までも、「色彩」に読み替えてみました。

　ウズベキスタンはかつて茫漠とした砂漠にオアシス都市が点在し、ラクダのキャラバンが行き交う・・・平山郁夫が愛したシルクロードとは、瞳のみが捉える可視光としての《色》の波長現象にとどまらないでしょう。その歩んできた歴史の重層に、混ざり合う民族の興亡に、砂漠から高山にいたるランドスケープの多様さに、美しく着飾る民族衣装のきらめきに、出し惜しみの末に恵まれたさまざまな果実の味と形に、きっと見出されたに違いないのです。それこそがまさに、本写真展のテーマとした《彩り》なのです。

　本写真展では、ウズベキスタンと日本を旅して見出した稲田喬晃カメラマンの原風景を対比させることで、新たな色彩の織り成す世界に挑みます。

京都大学 白眉センター

特定准教授

相馬 拓也

Takaaki INADA