John Lennon said it “Woman, I can hardly express, My mixed emotions at my thoughtlessness, After all, I’m forever in your debt”… It took a while but we are getting there: we are finally recognizing the importance of women throughout history, science, the arts, and every other field. The same applies to photography, and specifically to Japanese photography. The Fotomuseum Den Haag seeks to address this ancestral inequality with its current exhibition, I’m So Happy You Are Here – Japanese Female Photographers from the 1950s to Today.
While some Japanese photographers have become widely recognized, I’ve shared before the awe I felt visiting a Daido Moriyama exhibition, one of the most influential figures among many. But what about women? Japanese women are often admired for their discretion and humility, not to mention their role in a culture traditionally dominated by men. This exhibition represents a ground-breaking effort to highlight the photographic work of not just one, but 26 Japanese women. The topics explored are broad, ranging from classic street photography to innovative creativity and experimentation. It offers a refreshing perspective on Japan, one that is unfamiliar to Western audiences – a Japan seen through the eyes of women. I cannot say I loved every piece presented but I was particularly sensitive to the work by Ishiuchi Miyako, Nishimura Tamiko and finally Yanagi Miwa, with her “elevator girls”, a series of tableaux reflecting on the place of women in the Japanese society.
