Eyes

• Prize
• Photographer
  Yasunori Matsui, Japan
• Studio
  Photo×Design sora

Are animals in zoos happy? This issue is controversial.
We often think of zoos as enjoyable places – the animals look like they
are living their lives peacefully, and at the same time, zoos are
valuable places in that they allow us to see and study rare animals.

However, due to repeated inbreeding, the animals’ instincts and
biology are being altered.　I feel that their long-standing biological
system is on the verge of collapse. To solve this issue, we cannot
simply say that we should not have any zoos. We cannot deny the
significance of the role that zoos play in our society.

When I visited a small zoo in Japan and I was drawn into the animals’
eyes. They had dignity, but at the same time I saw the mixed
expressions of loneliness, fear, stress and anger. All the animals in the
zoo had this mixed expressions in the eyes, yet

• Awards
  Permanent Collection ･ 2015 “Young Portfolio” , 2 of Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts Collection from “Artificial World“ , Yamanashi , Japan ･ 2014 “Young Portfolio“ , 4 of Kiyosato Museum of Photographic Arts Collection from “Eyes“ , Yamanashi , Japan Prize ･ 2017“Epson Photo Grad Prix Monochrome Category” (from Series of “Eyes”) ･ 2016 “sélection start to collect in fotofever” (from Series of “Eyes”) ･ 2015 “Mt.ROKKO INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL EMERGENCY PHOTOGRAPHER” (from Series of “Eyes”) ･ 2015 “International Photography Awards Professional” (Honorable Mention , from Series of “Eyes” & “Captivity” ) ･ 2015 “ KYOTOGRAPHIE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL SATELLITE EVENT KG＋AWARD” (Top 16) ･ 2016-2014 “Ashiya Photo Award - Road to Paris-” (Judges' Special Award & Excellence Award from Series of “Eyes” ) ･ 2012 “Nikkor Photo Contest” (Associate choice from Series of “Eyes” ) Media ･ October 2016National Geographic -Chinese version-