Araki: Chiro My Love

I just bought this book, a photographic essay I wish I had done

I have looked at these pictures over and over again

they make me cry every time. I think it has to do with the ideas of animism

that the Japanese have. their spirituality toward animals/inanimates

Apparently in the painting salons in Europe there was a hierarchy of subject matter

which determined how valuable a painting was

1. History/Mythology/Religion

2. Portraiture

3. Genre Painting (Life Scenes)

4. Landscape

5. Animal Painting

6. Still Life

To me this is so wrong.

Humans are

totally dependent

on objects, landscapes

and animals

A photograph from Chiro,

and a photograph I took when

my cat was dying (the first time)