People who are in continuous desperate situation do not cry easily,
because they are used to. They just have vague eyes. It is
resignation toward society they are belonged to, and also toward
themselves who are powerless to change its society.
I had been encountering these vague eyes many times when I was
taking photos of sexual minorities in east Africa. Some were
attacked by their father’s knife, and some others were jailed.
Phelix, who had been working as gay prostitute for last decade in
Kenya, will be turning 30 years old this year. He had lost father,
was thrown away by boy friend, and became HIV positive within
last 5 years. Then taking whisky everyday became annual behavior.
“I wanna leave this city for thinking about my life” said Phelix
around the end of last year. He then stopped contacting to all his
friends. Nowadays nobody knows whether he is still alive ornot.
Born in 1983. Keiji Fujimoto is a documentary photographer originally from Hiroshima, Japan.
He had been walking around several parts of the world in his young age. After graduated from the university, he started documenting third worlds, with a particular focus on those people who live under the physical and psychological shadows.
Keiji is currently based in Tokyo, Japan.
Awards Awards
2015 - Lens Culture Emerging Talent Award
2014 - Grand Prize, Ueno Hikoma Award
2013 - 2nd place, Gordon Parks International Photo Contest
2013 - Honorable Mention, Ueno Hikoma Award
2012 - 1st place, Gordon Parks International Photo Contest
2012 - Japan Society of Art Photography Encouragement Award, Ueno Hikoma Award
