Tetsuya Goto also was the one who introduced Katja Stuke and Henguchi in 2010. Stuke was looking for a partner to realise the first Photobattle. They met in Konohana, Osaka, since then the central spot for all exchange activities. They agreed to walk through Namba area the next day, both equipped with small Fuji disposable cameras, capturing what they saw, using this method as a form of communication despite their two different languages and later using these images for their first Photobattle performance at Baikado and Bloom Gallery in Osaka in February 2011. Different ideas of Copy, Reality and Perception where discussed in a performance, an oe-day-exhibition and an artist talk. The photobattle was the first ANT!FOTO event in 2011.
Based on an idea of a battle with reference to Hip Hop, various installations were created in galleries (Osaka), subway stations (Düsseldorf), performances or publications. More and more artists were involved, such as musicians from Osaka and Düsseldorf. Photography has always been a bridge in the dialogue between the two artists in all projects (up to the present day), the handling of the images a method of communication.
From this cooperation further forms of collaboration developed. Meanwhile there was an exchange between Osaka and Düsseldorf, which has already brought other artists from Düsseldorf to Japan and from Osaka to Düsseldorf (including Dunja Evers or Yoshihito Mizuuchi); a network was created, which now also includes the WELTKUNSTZIMMER in Düsseldorf and the BLEND INN / Blend Apartments in Osaka.
Feb 4 – Feb 6, 2011
Photobattle in Osaka
Katja Stuke & Yoshinori Henguchi:
Baikado Gallery & Bloom Gallery, Osaka