shashasha

Six self-published zines by Japanese photographer Yumiko Utsu. Each of these zines features a different series from Utsu’s imaginative and uniquely bizarre photographic work. While the zines differ in size and length, each of them features high-quality prints on sturdy, glossy paper.

“Father’s Turtle”
One morning, while my father was away, I secretly borrowed his turtle. In a rush, I photographed it turned on its back or standing up or doing various exercises, then returned it before my father could notice anything. The series demonstrates the potential of a single turtle. (The turtle is still doing well to this day.)

“Portrait”
A selection of photographs from the past ten years in which I photographed a single figure. It features many of my classical works and functions as an introductory volume.

“Taman Eden”
This zine features pictures of an Indonesian man with an irresistible smile, who asked me at one of my exhibitions to photograph him, taken as I let my imagination of Indonesia run wild. I picture Indonesia as a fertile country, and I chose the title ‘Taman Eden’ (which means ‘Garden of Eden’ in Indonesian) following a discussion with him. For the shoot, I prepared various animals and foods and let him interact with them as he pleased.

“Octopus”
On the morning of a photography session with a woman, I went to the local fish market and bought a living octopus. Because of the strength of his suction cups, I couldn’t use it on her body while it was still alive but was allowed to put it on her breast while it was still fresh and slimy. It seemed a waste to use it only for these photographs, so after this shoot I also photographed the octopus in my own usual style as well.

“Baby Mice Are Dreaming Day and Night”
For this zine I played around with the pink mice that are used as food for reptiles and birds of prey. These mice have been flash-frozen and killed but they look so cute in the photographs, as if they came alive again and were just dreaming. A zine of many mice playing in the world of dreams.

“Fallen From Heaven”
I found a a sparrow chick that had fallen from its nest on a telephone pole and died, and photographed it with much love and care. I hope the sparrow chick enjoyed its strange journey into the underworld to make up a little for its short life.