Tokihiro Sato using Pen-Light

♪

How are these kinds
of photos actually taken?

We visited Sato-san’s creative workspace.

First, the tripod is set up.

Tokihiro Sato was born in 1957.

He majored in sculpture
during his student years,

but it was in the late
1980s that he transitioned

to photographic expression
as seen today.

It all started when he began taking photos
to document his own sculptural works.

Oh, the image is
showing up here.

Oh, you're right.
Beautiful.

Now, what comes next?

The camera setup is
actually quite simple.

The key to my work is what happens
after I step in front of the camera.

Alright, let's take a look.

This is the prop for this piece.

Yes, that's right.

Something unimaginable.

Well, I use a light as a brush.

Something like a brush.

This time, from one end to the other,

I will turn this entire narrow passage
into a sea of light.

I leave the camera
shutter open.

And slowly move a penlight
through the darkness.

With a steady rhythm,
I move my hands and feet.

Drawing trails of light.

It looks as if he is sculpting,
using light as his material.

It resembles the process
of sculpting a piece.

Sato-san’s own movements.

Directly become
traces of the penlight.

spreading across the corridor.

The trails of light appear
almost like living creatures,

emitting their own glow.

This series of works is titled
"Light – Breath."

Why…