A NEW exhibition of photos by Japanese photographer Hidetoshi Ochiai has been opened at the Washington Gallery, Penarth as part of Japan 2001, a celebration of the culture and lifestyle of Japan.
The exhibition entitled 'Heart of Wales - a Japanese perspective' is a collection of photos of Wales taken by Ochiai over a period of 18 years. Back in the summer of 1983, Ochiai made his first visit abroad to Wales and his photos are a very personal response to what he observed in Wales at that time and during his subsequent visits.
"Every aspect of the scenery in Wales simply surprised me. It was really a culture shock. At the beginning, every landscape was new to me that I thought they could be a most wonderful subject for my photography. Also, when I went to the top of the hill in Powys and looked around, I could easily imagine the world of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," said Ochiai.
The subject of his photos are scenes from everyday life. Ochiai says: "Basically daily scenes are often ordinary to most people and it can be extremely difficult for local people to appreciate their appeal and beauty."
Japan 2001, with its emphasis on grass roots activities and 'participation' and 'exchange,' offers a unique opportunity for many people in Britain to learn about and experience Japanese culture and lifestyle. There are currently over 100 events taking place across Wales.
Japan 2001's Wales Co-ordinator Bet Davies said: "Our aim is to deepen the understanding between our two countries. There has been tremendous enthusiasm across Wales for a huge range of activities."
