Moe Suzuki
(Japan)
Moe Suzuki is a visual artist based in Tokyo. She engages in long-term research-based projects that are told through multiple layers of visual narratives. She primarily works with photography,
which is mixed with illustrations, archives and video made from the collected testimonies and data. She has created projects such as ‘SOKOHI’ (2020), ‘Today’s Island’ (2022) and ‘Aabuku’ (2024), which focus on the memories of people affected by environmental issues, urban development and physical disability. She is particularly adept at editing her work into photobooks, which won the Luma Rencontres Dummy Book Award in 2021 and has been shortlisted for many photobook awards worldwide.
Kusari
The project ‘Kusari’ will focus on the story of the invisible carcinogenic chemical, PFAS, which had contaminated the tap water in part of Okayama, Japan. The source of the contamination, waste granular activated carbon left unmonitored near the dam for years, silently released the chemical like a linked chain, overshadowing people’s daily lives. The visual narrative of ‘Kusari’ will unfold in layers of research and collected stories from people who have used this water in their daily lives.
BTS Footage
From the Judge
Lesley A. Martin
“Suzuki Moe’s innovative visual storytelling often incorporates elements from personal archives alongside firsthand, fact-based research. Her exploration of the scientific, personal, and societal dimensions of PFAS pollutants will undoubtedly result in a compelling and impactful project.”
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