Woman Crush Wednesday: Takako Kido
The Ordinary Unseen © Takako Kido
Words & Images by Takako Kido
Interview by Athena Abdien
How did the process of creating images for The Ordinary Unseen come to be?
I had believed I had to go to NY in order to become a successful photographer and to become happy. When I moved to NY from Tokyo and started studying at ICP in 2002, I was so happy and excited. But after a while, I found myself struggling with stress and isolation by not speaking English well, not being able to make close friends and trying to live with as little as I could because I was not making money but only spending it from my savings. At some point, I decided to make a single photograph whenever I felt sad, lonely or frustrated. As I repeated this, I gradually started to see beautiful things that had escaped my notice during my hectic daily life. This series is a recording of “hidden treasures” that keep me reminding the appreciation to the beauty of the ordinary everyday life.
The Ordinary Unseen © Takako Kido
What inspire you as a photographer, artist and mother?
Especially for this project, as a photographer and artist, I was inspired by the Buddhist parable “The Gem in the Robe.” Through this project, my feelings run parallel to those of the poor man. As my project developed, I realized how happy and fortunate I already had been.
The house was a very prosperous one
and the poor man was served many trays of delicacies.
The friend took a priceless jewel,
sewed it in the lining of the poor man’s robe,
gave it without a word and then went away,
and the man, being asleep, knew nothing of it.
After the man had gotten up,
he journeyed here and there to other countries,
seeking food and clothing to keep himself alive,
finding it very difficult to provide for his livelihood.
He made do with what little he could get
and never hoped for anything finer,
unaware that in the lining of his robe
he had a priceless jewel.
Later the close friend who had given him the jewel
happened to meet the poor man
and after sharply rebuking him,
showed him the jewel sewed in the robe.
When the poor man saw the jewel
his heart was filled with great joy,
for he was rich, possessed of wealth and goods
sufficient to satisfy the five desires.
(The Lotus Sutra translated by Burton Watson, p. 152)
The Ordinary Unseen © Takako Kido
What drove you to pursue image-making?
Photography always shows me something beautiful and teaches me something important in life. So, I want to talk about my discovery to people through my work.
If you could teach a one-hour class on anything, what would it be?
The benefit of touch, skin-to-skin communication.
The Ordinary Unseen © Takako Kido
What was the last book you read that resonated with you?
The book, “Touch” by Dr. Tiffany Field.
Describe your creative process in one word.
Understanding.
The Ordinary Unseen © Takako Kido
What is your favorite podcast to listen to?
Recently I listened to the podcast, “The Candid Frame.”
The Ordinary Unseen © Takako Kido
How do you take your coffee?
Since I had a baby, I stopped drinking coffee. Coffee is too strong for me now. I drink tea when I start working in my studio in the morning and after lunch, usually with checking my emails, writing replies or reading a book.
