Flemish photographer penetrates Japanese underground
A new exhibition by a Flemish photographer throws light on the shadow world of the Yakuza, a Japanese subculture completely unknown in the west
Beyond the clichés
The image that was chosen for the poster of the exhibition sums up what the name Yakuza brings to mind. A broad-shouldered man, full of tattoos, portrayed statically from behind. But it is actually an atypical image in the series documented by Kusters, with the help of his brother. The rest of the photos are dynamic and agile, almost like snapshots.
The images in the exhibition at CC De Werf are grouped by theme; some are printed on long strips of fabric hanging from the ceiling, an arrangement that lends the space an Eastern atmosphere.
A first series shows a training camp for Yakuza recruits. Their day begins with meditation on the beach, the rest is filled with combat training. Kusters continues with images from Kabukicho, Tokyo's red light district, which Yakuza controls.
He follows them on their patrol of the streets: Men in black suits, with invariably expressionless faces, making them more intimidating. In the background, Tokyo figures as a frantic decor.
But Kusters goes beyond the clichés of suits and tattoos. He also shows the Yakuza’s human side in a series about the death of one of the leaders of the Miyamato clan. The pictures show their farewell and mourning.
The Yakuza series shows the work of a photographer with a talent for telling a story. But more importantly, Kusters touches on the essence of documentary photography: the ability to penetrate social environments, to see beyond the superficial and to capture the essence of the subject. A must-see.
Until 14 December at CC De Werf, Aalst
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