A photo exhibition titled "Snow Forest" by Niseko-based ski photographer Yoichi Watanabe is currently being held at the Tomioka White Museum in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture
Tomioka was a person who greatly influenced Watanabe.
Watanabe is one of Japan's leading ski photographers, having published his work in ski media such as BRAVOSKI since the 1990s. With skiing as his lifestyle, he spent his 30s traveling domestically and internationally, visiting ski resorts around the world and continuing to photograph.
His subjects included prominent skiers of the time, as well as fellow skiers. Watanabe's style is to treat everyone equally—professional or amateur, adult or child—when they put on their skis.
The riding photos that Watanabe captured were featured in Patagonia advertisements and magazines such as POWDER MAGAZINE at the time.
In addition to publishing his photographs in magazines, he continues to consistently present them through photobooks and exhibitions.
A leading veteran freeskier, snowboarder, and telemark skier of today, he transcends the genre of equipment and is established as a "skier," with photographs of him skiing all over the world.
Among the many photographers, Watanabe was skilled at skiing. He would put on his skis and enter snow-covered mountains and forests, continuing to take photographs. And while skiing in snow-covered mountains all over the world, he noticed something. Most of the places where he could work with his skis were "alpine" areas with exposed rock. The
Alps are a world dominated by rock, devoid of life. Japan, on the other hand, is surrounded by forests, teeming with diverse life, and living in mutual support. Perhaps that spirit is also alive in the Japanese people. It was only
through his travels around the world that Watanabe noticed this, and this exhibition is a collection of photographs capturing the world he saw.
"I've been skiing for a long time, skiing all over the world and presenting my work. When it comes to skiing, people tend to focus on the gear, the skiers, the cool turns and jumps, but you can't ski without a place to ski. This time, my work focuses on the surrounding areas where I have the opportunity to play, such as the mountains, trees and nature," says Watanabe
Watanabe goes into the mountains to ski, and he photographs the trees and forests he encounters there. These are landscapes he encounters while skiing, and while they are landscape photographs, they are also scenes that one would never encounter if one were not skiing
Although he photographs skiing, he does not focus solely on the skiers. He pays attention to the entire environment surrounding the skiers, including the surroundings and the tracks they leave behind, and takes pictures of things that he finds beautiful
His interest in nature is not something he has just started, as he has been taking photographs for a long time. However, his awareness has increased in recent years due to the increasing concern about the global environment and the development of Niseko, where he lives
"I have consistently been depicting the symbiosis between people and nature. There are many categories of skiing, but the point remains the same: venturing into nature. Everyone talks about the equipment they need to ski, but no one talks about the places they ski or the nature. If it's the same thing as skiing, I think we should talk more about those things. But I had a question: who would do that?
The other issue is the global environmental problem. With record-breaking heavy rains and light snowfall, the nature surrounding the Earth and snow is clearly changing. I want to document this as a skier and photographer, and raise issues about how we can face this and live our lives
The Niseko area where I live now is getting a lot of attention for its skiing and snowboarding. Real estate is being developed, and trees are being cut down. Properties are being advertised in a flashy way. The environment where I live, close to home, is being destroyed. I wasn't born and raised in Niseko; I love the place and moved there of my own volition, so I'm more sensitive than most to these things. My message is to say, 'Let's all think together about the destruction of our beautiful natural environment.'"
"Snow Forest" captures nature through skiing, and shows a world that goes beyond mere sports photography. As people who enjoy snowy mountains, perhaps it's time to face the natural environment and snow and think about the snow forest
Minamiuonuma City Tomioka White Museum
142 Kamiyakushido, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture
10:00-17:00
Admission fee 500 yen
The photo exhibition runs until March 23rd
. *The museum will be temporarily closed from February 1st to 26th for renovation work.
For details, please check the special exhibition website.
http://www.6bun.jp/white/
Yoichi Watanabe
is a photographer who travels the world's snow-covered mountains, creating and exhibiting photographs.
He lives in Niseko, Hokkaido, and continues to photograph the climate and lifestyle of snowy regions, primarily focusing on ski photography. Since 2015, he has published Stuben Magazine, introducing snow culture from around the world from his unique perspective. In February 2020, he published the photo book "Snow: The Essence of the Winter Forest".