Under the Waves

Turning the world upside down can be as easy as going for a swim. Using a waterproof camera and watching the tide instead of the viewfinder, Asako Narahashi shows Japan’s coastal areas as seen from the sea.

Under the Waves

Interview by Bridget Fitzgerald

Why these areas of Japan? What places them in the series?

Japan is a relatively small country surrounded by the sea. The coastline scenery is varied; sometimes it is a fully natural environment, sometimes man-made. I wanted to look at Japan from the water.

The coastlines in all the photographs are linked to each other somehow, but each photograph is rather individual and independent. Continue reading


All photos © Asako Narahashi, courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, all rights reserved.

Asako Narahashi 
Atami, 2001 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Asako Narahashi Atami, 2001 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Namamugi, 2003 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Namamugi, 2003 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Kawaguchiko, 2003 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Kawaguchiko, 2003 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Jonanjima, 2002 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Jonanjima, 2002 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Momochi, 2003 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Momochi, 2003 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Mekari, 2004 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Mekari, 2004 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Yunohama, 2004 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Yunohama, 2004 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Zeze, 2005 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Zeze, 2005 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York
Iwasehama, 2004 
From the series <i>half awake and half asleep in the water</i>
C-Print 
© Asako Narahashi, Courtesy <a href=
Iwasehama, 2004 From the series half awake and half asleep in the water C-Print © Asako Narahashi, Courtesy Yossi Milo Gallery, New York

Interview continued

How did it all start? How did you develop this new way of taking photographs?

One day in summer, I went to the sea with my friends. While I was swimming, I happened to see my friends, who were having a party on the beach. That was the very beginning. Swimming backstroke like a sea otter, I took photographs of them from the water. After a year, I put the camera into the water more intentionally.

How much do you get knocked around?

Thousands of small waves knock me over. However, I never fight against it, but go completely with the flow.

What are you working on next?

I had “walking eyes” first. Now I have “floating eyes,” so I will probably have “flying eyes” next. I’m half-serious and half-kidding.