ZEN FOTO GALLERY

Together with photographer Shoko Hashimoto, Zen Foto Gallery has started a fund to support photographer Hideka Tonomura's "SHINING WOMAN #cancerbeauty" — a portrait project dedicated to women who fight cancer. A donation box has been set up in the gallery during Hashimoto's photo exhibition, currently being held at Zen Foto Gallery. We deeply appreciate everyone's support.

この度、写真家・橋本照嵩さんと禅フォトギャラリーが共同で、写真家・殿村任香さんの癌と闘い向き合う女性のポートレートプロジェクト"SHINING WOMAN PROJECT"の撮影を支援する基金を始めました。現在禅フォトギャラリーで開催中の橋本さんの写真展の間、ギャラリーに募金箱を設置します。是非お力添えを賜りますよう宜しくお願い申し上げます。

Hideka Tonomura's Artist Statement
アーティストステートメント (日本語版は英語版のあと)

SHINING WOMAN #cancerbeauty

For women, losing their womb, ovaries, breasts, and hair is extremely depressing.

Feelings of despair and madness.

Young women who dream of giving birth.
Women who are receiving infertility treatment.

Due to their cancer, they are not only losing their uterus, ovaries, and breasts but are also simultaneously losing their dream of having their own child.

The fear of losing their female organs brings a premonition of death to their femininity.
It feels like hell for them to accept such fears.

Nevertheless, women still put on lipstick, nice clothes, and wigs, and head out to their battlefield—the outside world.

Verbal abuse and prejudice.
Unawareness can be truly horrifying.

Disappointed in myself for hating people who use mean words,
while I myself may unconsciously have used mean words as well.

It can happen to me as a woman, and to men, to their loved ones.

I want to change how people perceive female illnesses and cancer patients.

I want the world to become a place where women can live more comfortably so that they can continue to treasure their everyday life and feel free to go outside, without having to experience any verbal abuse just because they have lost their breasts, wombs, ovaries, and hair.

Femininity is not determined by one’s body parts. Everything is a testament to choosing to live.

Women can always turn despair into strength and continue to let their beauty shine out.

The true meaning of shining lies in the power with which we fight for our lives.

Women who dream to see their children grow up.
Women who dream to become an adult and fall in love.

Anytime,
Anywhere,
Any case.
The essence of life is always beautiful.

All women are shining and I will continue to capture their radiance.

—Hideka Tonomura

女性にとって、子宮、乳房、卵巣、髪を失う事は深い深い悲しみです。

絶望と発狂。

出産を夢みる若い女性。
不妊治療をしている女性。

がんになり、子宮、卵巣、乳房を失うと同時に、自分の子どもを産むという夢までをも失う。

女性のシンボルを失う恐怖と向き合う事は、女性性の死を予感させる。

その恐怖を受け入れる事との、地獄の対話。

それでも女性達は、口紅をひき、素敵なお洋服を身に纏い、ウィッグを着用し、戦場である、外界に出ていく。

言葉の暴力と偏見。

無意識とは本当に恐ろしいもの。

卑劣な言葉に対し、人を憎んでしまう事への失望。

でも、私も同様に卑劣な言葉を無意識に使っているかもしれない。

同じ女性として、自分にも起こりうる事。
そして、男性も大切な人に起こりうる事。

女性のがんだけでなく、がん患者に対する概念を変えたい。

女性達が生きやすくなる世の中になって欲しい。

変わらぬ大切な日常として、外界に出れるよう。

乳房、子宮、卵巣、髪を失っても言葉の暴力に合わぬよう。

女性性は臓器によって、決められるものではない。

全ては生きる事を選択した証。

女性はいつだって、どんな絶望でも受け入れ、美しくいる事の強さがある。

輝くという本当の意味を知っている。

命と闘える力がある。

子供の成長を見届ける事が夢だという女性。
大人になって恋愛する事が夢だという女性。

Life is beautiful.

Anytime,

Anywhere,

Any case.

命の芯はいつだって美しい。

女性達は輝いている。

—殿村任香

#cancerbeauty

For more information:
https://www.instagram.com/shining_woman_project/
https://www.facebook.com/shiningwomanprojectwithyou