Recruit

In Recruit, Tomoko Sawada continues her work on the autoportrait at the heart of contemporary Japanese society. This time, she explores the identity photos which Japanese students take at the end of their studies when they start looking for work. She retains the well-established formal conventions - dress, posture, neutral facial expression - but adds a subtle variation. Starting with a fixed photographic method, which imitates the photobooth with its similar lighting, unchanging framework and pose-taking, she multiplies the images by playing on her hairdo, her makeup and her facial expression. She surprises the audience by showing difference which she renders possible and visible on her face, and demonstrates therefore the relative character of all appearance. The three contact sheets of portaits are arranged in a grid in the book, giving us a global vision of the number of photographs while inviting us to look from one face to the next.