..February 2011.. ..Dresden..
A short video shot by Iori Yoneda during the From Above exhibition in Dresden, Germany.
From Above was exhibited simultaneously in Dresden and Tokyo. A couple more days to catch to the exhibition before it closes in both cities.
Thank you to everyone in both cities who came to the exhibitions. A big thank you to the Dresden and Tokyo teams who made it possible for the photos to be exhibited. Without their tireless efforts none of this would be possible.
From Above is my continuing series of portraits about atomic bomb Survivors and fire bombing survivors from Tokyo and Dresden. There are also events happening around the photo exhibition.
From Above
February 10th-28th, 2011
Ortsamt Blasewitz
Naumannstraße 5
010309 Dresden
Germany
..February 2011.. ..Nagasaki..
Sad news, Mr. Hisanobu Murozono passed away earlier this week.
He is the 3rd atomic bomb Survivor (Hibakusha), who has passed away since I started photographing From Above. The 2nd Hibakusha this month to pass, 2 weeks after the passing of Ms. Yamashita.
I interviewed and photographed Mr. Murozuno during the first visit to Nagasaki in September 2009. His smile was unforgettable. He was bigger than most of Hibakusha who I photographed. I’ll always remember the great cowboy style tie (two thin black ropes around a ornament) he wore.
He will be missed.
..January 2011.. ..Tokyo..
Sad news, Ms. Hisayo Yamashita passed away earlier this month. She is the 2nd person I photographed for “From Above” that has passed.
During the short period of time we were around her, Ms. Yamashita left a great impression on us all. Her friendship will be deeply missed.
It was honor to have known her and call her my friend.
Ms. Hisayo Yamashita from paul saviano on Vimeo.
..August 2010.. ..Nagasaki..
A documentary shot by Community Media about my portrait project From Above. The project concentrates on the lives of Hibakusha (atomic bomb Survivors) and Tokyo fire bombing Survivors. It was shown at Gallery EF in Tokyo during March 2009 and at the Nagasaki Peace Museum during July 2010.
From Above By Paule Saviano from paul saviano on Vimeo.
..September 2010.. ..Asakusa, Tokyo..
A recent article appearing in the Tokyo Shimbun about Hibakusha Ms. Hisayo Yamashita speaking at Gallery EF.
She will be speaking about her experiences surviving the atomic bomb in Hiroshima at Gallery EF on October 2nd and 3rd. If your in Tokyo please stop by.
The English translation will start about half way through video, around 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Ms. Hisayo Yamashita from paul saviano on Vimeo.
Ms. Hisayo Yamashita from paul saviano on Vimeo.
..September 2010 Tokyo..
If your in Tokyo on October 2nd or 3rd, please come hear Ms. Hisayo Yamashita speak at Gallery EF in Asakusa. I was lucky to have photographed her for my From Above exhibition earlier this year.
Here is some of Yamashita-san’s story about Hiroshima I listened to.
..August 2010 Nagasaki..
Copy of an article written by Tetsu Morii in Nishi Nippon newspaper appearing August 3rd, 2010. The article covers a photo session I did with Nagasaki Hibakusha Mr. Senji Yamaguchi.
Throughout his life Mr. Yamaguchi has been a dedicated Hibakusha activist. He is know by many from a photograph taken of his upper body showing keloid scars.
In 1982, he addressed a UN Special Session on Disarmament. Mr. Yamaguchi tirelessly traveled the world speaking to anyone who wanted to hear about the horrors of nuclear weapons.
I photographed Mr. Yamaguchi while in Nagasaki for the From Above photo exhibition. It was an unexpected opportunity. One of those great surprises.
He is in very fragile condition. But still has a sharp mind and understanding of current events. He hasn’t left his home much in 7 years. I greatly appreciate the invitation from his wife, Sachiko, to meet Mr. Yamaguchi.
I enjoyed the 40 minutes photographing and speaking with him. I will never forget. He is probably the most impressive person I’ve ever photographed.
..July 2010.. ..Nagasaki..
Mr. Takahara Itaru is a Nagasaki Hibakusha. He survived the fire bombing of Tokyo on March 10th, 1945. He returned home to Nagasaki and witnessed the atomic bomb being dropped on August 9th, 1945.
Takahara-san is a very well know photojournalist in Japan. During the years after the atomic bomb, he documented what was lost in the city. He just published a book Nagasaki Urakami Cathedral, 1945-1958: An Atomic Bomb Relic Lost. His photos document the remains of the Urakami Cathedral after the atomic bomb destroyed the largest church in East Asia.
His photos span the 13 years after the atomic bomb, showing how the Christians continued to worship and tried to maintain some of the damaged relics. The closing photos show members of the parish clearing away the strong stoic remains of the heavily destroyed cathedral. To make way for the new cathedral.
I was very lucky to photograph Takahara-san at my exhibition in the Nagasaki Peace Museum.
Portrait of Takahara Itaru from paul saviano on Vimeo.
..July 2010.. ..Nagasaki..
Portrait of Nagasaki Hibakusha Ms. Setsuko Taira-san.
Ms. Taira-san was a nurse for Dr. Nagai, who became famous for tirelessly treating many atomic bomb victims immediately after the bomb was dropped.
Ms. Setsuko Taira from paul saviano on Vimeo.