Photo Exibitions
by
Kent W Dahl
Tozai Tozai
"Ladies and Gentlemen from East to West"
Street to stage
Eyefish Media
Kojiro Hayashi and members of his Chindon Tsushinsha (Tozaiya) company adverticing in the Shinsekai entertainment district in Osaka. Year 2016
Photo: Kent W. Dahl© / eyefishmeda.com
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
A photo exhibition featuring images of the Osaka-based chindonya group, Chindon Tsushinsha (Tozaiya).
The Tokyo-based Danish journalist, photographer and documentary filmmaker, Kent W. Dahl, features the chindonya showman, Kojiro Hayashi, and his Chin-don Tsushinsha (Tozai-ya) troupe based in Osaka.
A resident of Japan for over 40 years, Kent has also made a documentary film about Kojiro Hayashi. Hopefully he will be able to add English subtitles to two of the first episodes in time for the exhibition.
WHAT IS CHINDONYA
If you frequent traditional shopping districts in Japan, you will occasionally see some colourful musicians playing a catchy cocktail of New Orleans jazz, circus music, and wistful hits.
Welcome to chindonya, purveyors of a distinctive form of Japanese street advertising dating back to the 19th century. Typically hired by small shops, their job is to entice passers-by to spend their money.
The advertisers dress in outstanding clothes and play catchy music in order to catch attention. At regular intervals, they announce the name and services of the shop or company, which has hired them.
WHO IS KOJIRO HAYASHI
Kojiro Hayashi is a veteran chindonya plying the streets of Osaka. He founded his company, Chindon Tsushinsha (Tozaiya), in 1984 after an eventful introduction to the profession in “deep” Osaka.
But Japanese society is changing. Chindonya’s core customers of small shops have been bruised by malls and online outlets. Hayashi has thus made his troupe into a vaudeville act, which can also do stage shows and concerts, while profiting from chindonya’s distinctive roots.
Drawing on the hard-earned chindonya training of his youth, Hayashi decided to hone his troupe’s performance skills in a dilapidated theatre in Osaka.
THEMES:
The exhibition is divided into three main themes:
Chindonya showman, Hayashi Kojiro, and his Chin-don Tsushinsha (Tozai-ya) company. Working as chindonya in the streets.
Hayashi Kojiro and his chindonya troupe performing their vaudeville act in an old dilapidated theatre in deep Osaka.
Also, Kojiro Hayashi doing other kind of entertainment jobs.
Kamagasaki.
An old, and the biggest, slum area in deep Osaka, where Kojiro Hayashi started his career as a chindonya in 1980. It is also the home to the theatre, where Chin-don Tsushinsha (Tozai-ya) performs their yearly vaudeville act.
Members of Tozai-ya still occasionally advertise for shops in the area.
Copyright
All photos, articles and other material displayed in Eyefish Media's homepage are covered by copyright protection. No use or reproduction is allowed without prior consultation with Kent W. Dahl
VENUE:
Artelier Hamann
Friesenstrasse 33
30161 Hannover
Germany
www.katrin-hamann.de
DATE:
15th to 18th June 2023
TIME:
15 and 16th June: 14 to 20 o’clock.
17 and 18th June: 13-18 o’clock.
MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:
(www.katrin-hamann.de)
ABOUT ATELIER HAMANN:
Atelier Hamann is a space combining art working, exhibitions and networking.
Its exhibitions span, for instance, paintings, installations, and photography.
Artist Katrin Hamann has her working studio in a room behind the gallery.
The Atelier Hamann opened in 2021. It was previously an antique store for 50 years. The atelier is located in a bunker.
Homepage and music
Photos from the exhibition and time spend in Hannover
EIfi & Ignaz
Ms Elfi (above photo) visited my exhibition.
She is part owner of the huge "wunderraum" second hand shop, Elfi & Ignaz, in Hannover.
I visited her shop and found a nice Bavarian hat (left photo), which she kindly presented me.
I was wearing it during my time in Hannover.
Photo by Katrin Hamann©
Katrin Hamann documentating the exhibition Photo: Kent W Dahl©
Henning Hamann supported the exhibition with calm advice and translation.
He also created supurb meals including delicious pancakes and berries for breakfast.
Katrin Hamann documentating the exhibition. Photo: Kent W Dahl©
Kent wearing a Bavarian hat from the second hand shop,
Elfi & Ignaz, in Hannover.
Photo by Katrin Hamann©
Visiting an exhibition at Galerie Hamann is also a way to serendipitily meeting old and new friends.
Katrin Hamann documentating the exhibition.
Katrin Hamann was also my guide in Hannover, which we explored on bicycles in the morning. Photo by Kent W Dahl©
Portrait painter, Oeznur Canserver, invited us to see her paintings.
Photo: Kent W Dahl©
Hannover's many parks and green spaces provides free boule venues.
Hannover is home to a huge example of "brutalist architecture."
Ilse and Cordula showed us around in the gigantic labyrintic "brutalist" complex.
Photos: Kent W Dahl©
Ilse and Cordula specializes in sterioscopic photos. Photo: Kent W Dahl©
Good bye! Photo by Katrin Hamann©
Copyright
All photos, articles and other material displayed in Eyefish Media's homepage are covered by copyright protection. No use or reproduction is allowed without prior consultation with Kent W. Dahl
The exhibition. Photo: Katrin Hamann©
