“El Camino (Path of Life) – Beyond Tunnel -” series is the first stage of the project The Journey of Life & Light. In total, 30+ photographic works (original gelatin silver prints) were created for this series. They became a part of national collection in France in 2005. (The list/price is available upon request as of 2025). Some works from this series were exhibited in my solo show In and Out of the Blue at W83 Gallery (150 W 83 st. New York, NY) through June 8, 2025 since the series is very my related to the show theme.
Photographed with black and white films. All archival gelatin silver prints on fiber paper, printed in the darkroom by the artist Misako OBA. Limited Edition. Size 11×14 inch. Some works has 16×20 inch prints as well.
Journey of Life & Light
1st Stage: “ El Camino – Beyond the Tunnel – ” series
(photographed 2001 – 2003, print and series completed 2005)
Statement
The body of my work explores human life as a journey. It is a metaphor of our lives.
I intentionally looked for tunnel-like images and captured them along with my eyes and emotion. I have been attracted to theses tunnel like images. Life is a long path (“camino” in Spanish) like a tunnel. It’s about my life. But, it could be about you or anybody. People in this modern society suffer from the same problems as ancient people did. As human, everyone experiences hardship or difficulty at some point in their lives. Dark, long way with sorrow, loneliness, confusion, turmoil, or desperation, and it seems like a tunnel without exit. We seek light…direction, purposes in life. We have our own journeys to go through.
Many of my photographs have human elements… alone, a couple, a child, a businessman or a stranger… No close-ups, however, so that anybody (the audience) could relate to the images as themselves, giving them the opportunity to cast themselves and think about their lives. The photographs were taken in France, Belgium, Japan, and the United States with black and white films. Mainly, Paris, New York, and Tokyo where I lived or long-term stayed from 2001 to 2003. These terms are overlapping with having gone through my unique personal experience. (The hand crafted gelatin silver prints in the darkroom were made through 2005.)
The photograph “INORI (Desperate Prayer)” and “HIKARI (Light from Above)” mark a turning point of life.
The image “Desperate Prayer” was taken at the final destination of pilgrimage in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. People arrive here after walking El Camino for miles and miles. During which time, the people think deeply about their own life and journey.
“Paradise”, and “The Other Side” are the last images of El Camino series, that illustrate having walked through this tunnel and reach wide open area like a paradise.
There is always hope, exit, and light. Subconsciously, I’m attracted to a little point of light or the group of lights like “fire flies”, which gives energy and warmth. It leads you to the 2nd stage of Journey of Life and Light that is “Fireflies” series (2002-2005). It includes Blue Fire Flies series.
I didn’t like France or I could say I had not interest in there before I visited, however, I fell in love the city and French (language, food, and people). My heart became warm and lively again. Your taste, thinking can be changed in five years or any time you have the experience.
I traveled Europe and walked a part of the ‘Camino’ to Santiago de Compostela after my experience of the tragedies. The final destination, at the Cathedral was more like a tourist place and so crowded. In order to take this photo with the natural ray from the above, I checked the time of the sun light falling down on this famous prayer pillar and got this shot in a crowd.
I noticed the shadow of the window frame and I felt spiritual. God is with me wherever I go.
Having walked through the tunnel, and see the light. We can go to the next phase.
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Misako OBA 