..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.
..April 2014.. ..Nagasaki..
This morning I received the sad news that Mr. Hiroshi Matsuzoe passed away at the age of 83 in Nagasaki. Mr. Matsuzoe was one the first hibakusha, atomic bomb survivor, I photographed and interviewed for From Above. He was 14 years old when the atomic bomb detonated over Nagasaki.
Mr. Matsuzoe dedicated his life to informing students about the importance of abolishing nuclear weapons. Last year he lost his voice to cancer but still spread his message when doctor’s restored his voice by installing an electronic device in his voice box.
I will always remember my brief time spent with Mr. Matsuzoe. In the hallway of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum he showed me paintings he had made of scenes from that horrific time. He had seen two young girls badly injured in the street, one later underwent surgery without anesthesia. Mr. Matsuzoe never forgot the screams coming from the little girl at that moment. A couple of days after, he witnessed their cremation while walking in the street. “It was two girls with light makeup and wearing a beautiful Kimono. They were about to be cremated. After someone put fire on them I couldn’t watch. I ran away.”
Many years later Mr. Matsuzoe painted that painful scene onto a canvas. He never knew the identity of either girl but when the painting was shown relatives and teachers of the two girls were found. One of the mother’s sobbed when she saw the painting.
The last time I saw Mr. Matsuzoe was at the From Above exhibition in the Nagasaki Peace Museum. You can see him in this documentary shot by Community Media. He appears 8 minutes into the program.
From Above By Paule Saviano from paul saviano on Vimeo.
The best tribute you can give to him is to never forget the lessons of Nagasaki and Hiroshima; and not to tolerate the excuse of war being a justifiable reason to settle differences.
Documentary filmed by Community Media about From Above when I was photographing in Nagasaki.
From Above By Paule Saviano from paul saviano on Vimeo.
“I was saved by a miracle.
And it was a miracle too, that I could find my mother and my friends.
I was miraculously allowed to live.”
-Mr. Tsukasa Watanabe, September 2008
I received the sad news, Mr. Tsukasa Watanabe, an atomic bomb survivor that I photographed on my first trip to Nagasaki, has passed away at the age of 79. The last time I saw Mr. Watanabe was at the Nagasaki Peace Museum when From Above was exhibited in July 2010. He had been in and out of the hospital but was still in good spirits. His wife accompanied him to the exhibition to see the other hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) portraits.
Like all the other atomic bomb survivors I have photographed, Mr. Watanabe was committed to telling the world about the importance of eliminating nuclear weapons. The compassion he demonstrated while speaking about life immediately jolted me.
He had a unique way of telling his story. He performed a one-man play about surviving the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and rescuing his mother under the debris of their destroyed home. During the last 14 years of his life Mr. Watanabe performed this play more than 100 times to audiences ranging from school children to adults.
The portrait I took of him in the courtyard of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is a photograph that makes me feel there is hope. Mr. Watanabe’s expression immediately draws me into the image along with the mosaic background.
It was an honor to have known Mr. Watanabe. I miss him. I will always admire his sense of compassion and optimism. His voice is now silent. But I hope through this portrait his spirit will be everlasting.
Mr. Watanabe appears in this documentary about From Above, 7 minutes and 40 seconds into the video.
..February 2012.. ..Nagasaki..
Sad news from Nagasaki. Mr. Akio Sakita, an atomic bomb survivor I photographed for From Above, passed away earlier this month from pneumonia. He was 83 years old.
Mr. Sakita was the last portrait I photographed on the initial trip to Nagasaki. An hour after I snapped his photograph I was on a train back to Tokyo. I wanted my memories of Nagasaki to be the eleven people I photographed during the trip. I started photographing in Nagasaki as soon as I arrived and photographed until the last minute I was there.
Mr. Sakita was soft spoken. At times his voice could barely be heard. He paused often for long moments to finish sentences. But the smile in his portrait was one of the most welcoming images of the project.
When I returned to Nagasaki a year later to present From Above as an exhibition at the Nagasaki Peace Museum, Mr. Sakita was the first person to greet me at the gallery opening. He arrived even before the press. I wasn’t sure he was going to attend because he was in fragile health. When I saw him at the gallery it was like seeing an old friend I hadn’t expected to see. We were able to speak for a while and look through the photographs together. This was the first time any of the atomic bomb survivors were able to see the other portraits in the project. They had only seen their own portraits before.
I said good bye to him at the exit of the Nagasaki Peace Museum. I watched him walk alone through the pouring rain of Japan’s famous “rainy season.” When he disappeared out of sight into the horizon I gave my last bow out of respect. This was the last time I saw Mr. Sakita. The moment was captured by a Community Media cameraman shooting a documentary about From Above. I’ve attached the documentary at the end. Mr. Sakita makes his exit at 8:30 into the documentary. It’s moment I will always remember. Almost half of the hibakusha photographed for From Above have now passed away.
From Above By Paule Saviano 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.
..June 2010.. ..Nagasaki..
First day of preparation for the From Above photo exhibition at the Nagasaki Peace Museum.
Biggest thanks to Izumi for the years of support. Many thanks to all the staff at the Nagasaki Peace Museum, the Nagasaki Peace Wing, and Community Media who helped make this happen. Will and Sue, my family in The Kingdom of Gamo.
Not sure if many realize the months of work put into an exhibition like this. Without the big hearts of everyone involved there would be no project or exhibition.
Here is a couple of minutes, from the hours/days of preparing the actual exhibition. The installation is always the toughest part.
Nothing was broken, no one was injured, and I didn’t spill anything.
