Ugoku Kanno

I’m passionate about movement. In Japanese, the word for move is ‘Ugoku’ and I’ve been fascinated by it since the early 2000’s. When I moved from the States to Japan in 2016, I began exploring Ugoku Kanno (sensual movement). I combined elements from both Eastern and Western cultures to create a unique image of movement. My project explores how different cultures express themselves through movement and how they can be unified.The image I have created is an exploration of the intersection between East and West, looking at cultural influences from Japan’s Edo period to Jackson Pollock and Henri Matisse. I wanted to showcase how these two cultures can be combined in a modern way that speaks to both sides.

In 2019, I began experimenting with images made in the form of Japanese hanging scrolls, (Kakejiku) which were traditionally shown vertically to display paintings and calligraphy.
For this piece, I photographed my subject over the course of several years. Through each photo taken, I was able to capture the subtleties of her movement and expressions. I combined these into a single Kakejiku frame that melded my subject’s past, present and future together in one image.
I believe this is a modern interpretation of an ancient art form that speaks to the beauty of life and its journey through time. It has been an incredibly meaningful project for me, and I hope you will find it just as inspiring.