tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089483554114841116.post4425774165160327411..comments2009-11-22T14:28:42.865-08:00Wendy Nelson Tokunagahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03529294803049232598noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089483554114841116.post-18810424814173929512009-11-22T14:28:42.865-08:002009-11-22T14:28:42.865-08:00Cool photos, Lucienne. Good to meet you here!Wendy Nelson Tokunagahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03529294803049232598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1089483554114841116.post-19744463381454225262009-11-22T10:00:23.523-08:002009-11-22T10:00:23.523-08:00Fading Borders<br />Photos by Lucienne van der Mijle<br /><br />‘Fading Borders&#39; is a series of double portraits of Dutch people who live and work in Japan and of Japanese people who live and work in the Netherlands. Juxtaposing what had been diametrically opposed cultures, seeing is believing that the border between Japan and the Netherlands is steadily fading away. <br /> A gardener on friendly terms with an ambassador? Unthinkable! Well, not any more. We live in a time when we seek common ground rather than differences. Yet we are more aware than ever of the distinct cultures. The Japanese call the effort to allow both cultures to meld harmoniously nemawashi: preparations must be made carefully before the tree can be planted. <br /> The subjects of the portraits have always found their form, despite differences in philosophies and actions; sometimes by standing back and viewing their own culture or by creating their own new Japanese/Dutch culture. Communication and respect are always vital.<br /> A series of staged images capturing the contrasts between the Japanese and Western culture punctuate the portraits. A comment by a Japanese friend of Lucienne van der Mijle’s was the inspiration for this series of photos. She thought it was odd that some Western women wear chopsticks in their hair, saying: “We don’t go around wearing a spoon and a fork in our hair!” <br />www.luciennevandermijle.nl<br />www.volkenkunde.nlLuciennehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18282267794705298026noreply@blogger.com