Interview with Kazuhisa Oishi
1. Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.
I was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Honshu, Japan, in 1982 and am 42 years old. My hometown, Shizuoka Prefecture, is located halfway between Tokyo and Osaka, and plays a very important role as it is home to major arteries connecting the east and west of the country, such as the Shinkansen, Tomei Expressway, and Tokaido Line. The prefecture stretches 140 kilometers from east to west, and is home to many beautiful scenic spots, such as Mt. Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, the Southern Alps, and Lake Hamana. When I went to the suburbs of the town where I was born and raised, it was common for me to have mountains and forests. Looking back, it may be that such beautiful natural environments have nurtured the sensibility necessary to become a nature photographer. I did not initially aim to become a photographer who takes landscape photos or Japanese wildflowers using a camera. It all started when I took a digital camera with me on a trip and took landscape photos. I also have a natural temperament called High Sensation Seeking (HSS). I am sensitive, easily hurt, curious, and active. I believe that this HSS temperament gave me my calling of photography.
2. Describe what a normal day looks like as an artist.
My day as an artist begins the day before a shoot by going shopping to prepare meals for the next day. I often also go mountain climbing on shoot days, so the day before I carefully study a map of the mountain I plan to climb and the time it will take to drive to my destination. I also plan my day's shooting schedule, calculating in my head the time it will take to drive to the location where the mountain wildflowers that I will be photographing are found.
3. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?
The theme of my art is mainly to photograph seasonal Japanese wildflowers and landscapes. My first meaningful encounter with wildflowers was in the spring of 2020, when I came across an orchid called Kumagaisou in a forest in my hometown. The Kumagaisou was just blooming beautifully and quietly. They do not exist for anyone. They have existed since time immemorial, and every year they sprout, bloom, and bear seeds for no apparent reason. Since then, I have been deeply fascinated by Japanese wildflowers and have pursued them throughout the four seasons. I want to aim my camera lens at the same eye level and height as them, talk to them, feel their energy, and capture the most beautiful moments of their mysterious, powerful, and beautiful vitality.
4. How does your art life impact other parts of your life?
Japanese wildflowers are the most sacred and important theme in my life as an artist, and it is a theme that I am determined to continue working on throughout my life. I am approaching my mid-40s, but when I was younger I was never able to find a theme that I wanted to devote my life to. However, looking back now, it was a very trivial thing that led me to discover the themes of cameras, photography, and wildflowers, which led me to where I am today. I strongly hope that by having people all over the world see my work, they will learn about the beauty of Japan's nature and the culture of appreciating the four seasons that the Japanese have cherished since ancient times, and I would also like to contribute to nature conservation activities in Japan by donating a portion of the proceeds to environmental protection.
5. Could you share any difficulties and hardships you had to face in life and how or if you managed/overcame them?
Regarding the difficulties and hardships I have faced in my life, I started out taking photos as a hobby. However, as I gained more experience in photography, my desire to make it a real job by selling my experience, skills, and my own photographs grew stronger day by day. I think this is true in countries all over the world, including Japan, but even if I had a strong desire to do so, I had to go through many hardships to truly make photography my job. I had to get through it. There are many photographers in Japan, both hobbyists and professionals, and the stock photo platforms where you can sell the photos you have taken are saturated with works sold all over the world. If I photograph the same subjects as other photographers, my own work and individuality will be buried in them. I tried to learn how to attract customers in order to sell my work on social media such as Instagram, but I didn't see much results, and I continued to feel a sense of crisis. I also continued to search for the best way for me to get my photographs seen by people overseas on what platform.
6. Tell us about your best experience in the art world so far.
My best experience in the art world was having the chance to have people from European countries see my work after participating in a group exhibition at an online gallery in a European country in the summer of 2024. Although it is happening slowly, people are becoming interested in my work and I am very pleased that I am receiving positive reviews.
7. Share your worst experience in the art world.
My worst experience in the art world was when I joined a photography club for the first time, when I was still new to photography. One of the participants showed my work to someone and he was very critical, saying that my work was very poorly done. I felt very angry and disappointed by his behavior.
8. What practical advice can you give to fellow artists?
As an artist, I hope you will clearly establish a theme or concept that represents what life experiences, thoughts, and emotions you want to convey to viewers through your work, and what you want them to feel. As an artist, it takes a considerable amount of time for your work and name to be known around the world, and if you want to continue working as an artist for the rest of your life, you will need a great deal of determination and perseverance. If you face difficulties in continuing your work as an artist, please rely on organizations that support artists in your country. You will surely be able to get useful advice from them.
9. Is the artist life lonely? Please share your thoughts and experiences.
As an artist, my life is always lonely. Unlike Europe and America, the culture of decorating your home with paintings and photographs and enjoying them as part of your interior design is unfortunately not well developed in my country, Japan, so it is almost impossible to make it as an artist in Japan. I was able to get to the point and hold online solo exhibitions in online galleries in these regions. I didn't learn these methods from someone else, I had to find them myself by researching on the internet. No one can tell you the best way. You have to find your best method through trial and error and find all the answers yourself.
10. What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?
My future goal is to hold a number of online solo exhibitions at online galleries in Europe and the United States, to let more people know about my works and activities, and to appreciate the beauty of Japan's nature, which the Japanese have cherished since ancient times. My goal is to convey the culture of appreciating the four seasons, and to use a portion of the proceeds from my work to support nature and environmental protection in my home country of Japan.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgeoya2