Irene Beers
For Almost Blue Aram Tanis photographed the boxes and tents in which the homeless live in Tokyo. Here most homeless people are middle-aged or older men, often once white-collar workers or company owners.
Japan has a culture of long working hours. Karoshi, the Japanese term to describe death attributed to overwork, is a well known phenomenon in this country. Nearly a quarter of Japanese companies have employees working more than 80 hours overtime a month, often unpaid, and 12 percent have employees breaking the 100 hours a month mark. 80 hours overtime a month is regarded as the threshold above which you have an increased chance of dying.
Almost Blue highlights the alternative homes that individuals have crafted for themselves in order to find refuge from the pressures of Japanese society. Through his photography, Aram Tanis reveals the resilience and adaptability of those who seek a different path in life. Each image serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by many in a culture that often prioritises conformity over individuality.
Almost Blue has been exhibited among others at London Photo (London / UK), Souterrain, Centre for Contemporary (Amsterdam / NL), Coalmine (Winterthur / CH) and Photo-OFF (Paris /FR).
