Italian director Federico Fellini shot a film called "Roma" in 1972, which combined documentary and narrative elements. Typically, films that mix narrative and documentary aim to use the narrative to enhance the expression of the theme. However, in "Roma," Fellini reversed this formula by making the documentary segments the key focus, using them to create a sense of dramatic tension, while the surreal narrative elements served more as background. This technique allowed him to create a rich, layered experience of memory, reality, and fantasy.
Tomoko Hasuwa, known for her sharp eye for capturing light and shadow, has traveled extensively to capture the beauty of the world around her. From crossing the desert roads of Rabat in Morocco with a backpack full of camera gear to walking through every botanical garden in Enschede, Netherlands, and navigating the streets of Madrid, Spain, Tomoko Hasuwa has produced a series of breathtaking solo exhibitions. In 2019, she traveled to Rome, the city of eternal beauty, for her latest solo exhibition "FES," which takes its name from the Italian word for "festival." Tomoko Hasuwa approached her work with an outsider's perspective, documenting the radiance of the city's energy. She captured intimate moments between family and friends in crowded plazas and saw the city's light as a source of life energy that she captured on canvas.
Fellini moved to Rome at the age of 19 and lived there for over 30 years before making "Roma." He interpreted Rome from a detached observer's perspective, and Tomoko Hasuwa similarly drew inspiration from this perspective, transforming the intangible feelings of an outsider into her creative theme for her exhibition "FES."
