Tokyo: Collective Conscious

Photographs from districts like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku, and Koenji depict a spectrum from the mundane to the extraordinary, the grotesque to the beautiful. Each image functions as a visual archetype, guiding viewers through a narrative that is both personal and universal.

Key archetypes featured in this project include the Salaryman/Woman, who embodies dedication and societal expectations, reflecting conformity, institutionalized self, and the personal sacrifices associated with corporate life; the Otaku, representing subcultures and obsessive passions, illustrating the diversity of personal identity and the outsider's quest for meaning within niche interests; the Host, who combines fantasy and service, revealing layers of escapism, societal roles, and the caregiver dynamic within contemporary Tokyo; the Gaijin, highlighting the experience of otherness, emphasizing isolation, curiosity, and the quest for belonging in a new culture; the Harajuku Girls and Trendsetters, who embody the rebel and trendsetter archetypes, with their fashion choices reflecting individualism, fantasy, and their role in shaping fashion trends; and the Everyman/Woman, characterized by ordinariness and relatability, representing the average person and embodying common experiences and emotions that resonate with the general public.

The pictures also engage with Jungian concepts such as the shadow, the self and ego, the anima, and the animus. The shadow represents repressed aspects of the psyche, while the self and ego reflect the entirety of the psyche and conscious identity. The anima and animus symbolize unconscious feminine and masculine qualities.

Documenting Tokyo in spring, the project emphasizes daylight as a metaphor for consciousness, illuminating both visible and hidden aspects of the city's identity. This transparency offers insights into Tokyo's dual nature and underscores themes of rebirth and transformation.

Ultimately, "Tokyo: Collective Conscious" aims to illustrate Tokyo as a living entity shaped by collective experiences, inviting viewers to reflect on their own inner landscapes and draw parallels between the city's external manifestations and their internal worlds.