Bronze in Advertising/Self-Promotion / 2025 / Advertising / Self-Promotion

• Prize
  Bronze in Advertising/Self-Promotion
• Photographer
  Kaoru Asano, Japan
• Instagram
  www.instagram.com/kaoru_works_portrait www.instagram.com/kaoru_works_art

I have spent years photographing my daughter—my muse and a professional ballerina.

In this piece, her form embodies the Japanese kanji “人” (hito), meaning “human.”
In 2024, a major scandal in Japan evoked the #MeToo movement, exposing deep-rooted misogyny and a culture where women are still treated as less than human.
As a Japanese woman and an artist, I could no longer remain silent.
Through this image, I raise a quiet, unwavering cry for dignity, equality, and the simple truth:
“I am human—just like you.”

I photograph my daughter—my muse and a professional ballerina—whose beauty and graceful movements inspire me deeply.
Through her, I explore invisible worlds that lie beyond the reach of the human eye.

I'm passionate about long-exposure photography, especially front- and rear-curtain sync, which allow me to paint with time and motion.
My dream is to become a leading voice in this expressive and limitless art form.