Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika has recently moved back to London as is currently looking for new work opportunities related to Japan, writing and translation.
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Over four months have passed since the The Great East Japan Earthquake and coverage of the relief efforts is rarely featured in the news here in the UK. However, as we know the recovery process is far from over. Raising awareness is vital to encourage the continuing support and help for those in the affected region.
Angus Miyaji, founder of the charity Seven Beach Aid, has worked with photographer Christina Aiton to bring a charity photo exhibition titled ‘Yet I Still Dare to Hope‘ to Hyper Japan 2011. The exhibition explores hope and rebuilding in the wake of the Japan earthquake.
“This exhibition offers a unique insight into the lives of 14 normal people from a small Japanese town, offering a chance for people living in the UK to get to know these people who were living a modest life until their lives were turned upside down. This exhibit is not about sorrow, but about hope. It’s about rebuilding. It’s about the future.”
Angus Miyaji – Seven Beach Aid
Alongside the sushi, cool gizmos and crazy cosplay outfits, visitors to this year’s Hyper Japan event will be able to see and respond to the stories of ordinary Japanese families from the tsunami-affected town of Shichigahama, through an intimate collection of photographs taken by local resident Christina Aiton.
Yet I Still Dare to Hope explores how 14 families in the northeastern Japanese town of Shichigahama, one of the areas hit hardest by the March 11 tsunami, are rebuilding their lives after the destruction.
Visitors will be able to leave messages of support that will be shared directly with the townspeople, encouraging those that have been directly affected and letting them know that they are not alone in the face of such a difficult time. There will also be able opportunity to donate and purchase charity goods for the benefit of residents of Shichigahama and Miyagi Prefecture.
Yet I Still Dare To Hope uses still photography accompanied by narratives from each survivor and features items from the disaster-hit area in order to convey the terrifying truth of humankind’s fragile existence, while exploring the subject of hope as the community begins the process of rebuilding their lives from the tragedy.
The exhibition has been organised by disaster relief organisations:
Tohoku Earthquake Relief Project London
(http://terp-london.co.uk/)
Seven Beach Aid
(http://sevenbeachaid.org/en-GB/)
Donations:
We are so thankful for all the generous support we are receiving towards this Photo Exhibition. The exhibition is entirely funded by donations. The expenses for the exhibition include the cost of printing photos & mounting, renting exhibition supplies, printing promotional leaflets, posters & booklets, postage of having items from the Japan sent to the UK etc). We are a couple hundred pounds away from our target and would appreciate any financial contribution if you would like to support us!
For individuals (credit / debit card, paypal)
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SLHLVZWQM75BE
Company Sponsors (credit / debit card, paypal)
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9M6ATGB3EXENJ
For more details about visiting the exhibition at Hyper Japan 2011:
http://www.hyperjapan.co.uk/
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[…] Notes to myself http://www.notestomyself.net/2011/07/hyper-japan-2011/ JETwit http://jetwit.com/wordpress/2011/07/20/charity-photo-exhibition-yet-i-still-dare-to-hope/ JETAA http://www.jetaa.org.uk/news-articles/yet-i-still-dare-to-hope-charity-photo-exhibition/ […]