Tokyo is famous for its obsession with technology. From talking toilets to robot restaurants and, of course, up-to-the-minute consumer gadgets, the city represents a culture that is hyper-connected yet strangely isolated. Matthew Pillsbury captures the city's manic pace through long exposures that transform bustling pedestrians into blurs on the urban landscape.
Pillsbury first visited Tokyo 10 years ago and was overwhelmed by its scale and by the language barrier. He returned last year to document that sensation, making three trips for the project. With an assistant, Pillsbury placed his tripod in the middle of parks and other public spaces, frequently shielding his camera from jostling by pedestrians. His exposures last a few seconds to 30 minutes, soaking up the saturated beauty and frenetic pace of the city. They transform people into ghostly blurs, rushing figures juxtaposed against buildings and trees that will endure so much longer than the people who built them.
The photographer had previously shot only in black and white, but Tokyo’s vibrant hues compelled him to work in color as well. "As I was researching the places in Tokyo it became apparent to me that some of the locations had to be in color," he says. "The cup noodle museum and the robot restaurant needed to be in color as did many of the cherry photographs."
Since Pillsbury's first visit in 2004, cell phones have replaced cameras and people seemed even less aware of the world around them. He often was ignored while shooting, the tourists and locals more interested in taking the perfect selfie than checking out a stranger with a tripod. Pillsbury is fascinated with technological innovation and social isolation, and hopes his series prompts people to ponder the role technology plays in current culture. “I hope that my photographs encourage people to ask these questions," he says, "and examine the role that it plays in their lives.”
Images from Tokyo and other work by Pillsbury is currently on display at Jackson Fine Art in Atlanta until May 8.
