Sunday, May 8, 2016

Good Fortune (in collaboration with H&M)

Good Fortune in collaboration with HM
Good Fortune in collaboration with HM c I'm wearing:

1. Wide brim hat in brown, from Niko And...
2. Oversized clubmasters, from Ray Ban.
3. Chunky sweater with chevron pattern, from H&M.
4. Super skinny jeans in light wash, from H&M.
5. Leather Chelsea boots in brown, from Paruno.
6. Rings, from H&M. 

Good Fortune in collaboration with HM eSpiritualism and religion are tricky subjects. My mom is a really faithful person and I think my sister likes that as well (they're cool Christians, not super intense nor those carrying guitars singing-preaching the Lord's word) but, for some reason, that never stuck with me. I'm not a religious person and I don't believe in a higher power out there making decisions for us, however, I do believe in energy and karma. If you do good deeds, you'll do well.

Being in Japan made me think a lot about spiritualism, I was also reading Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore at the time, so maybe that had a lot to do with the things going on in my mind too. The point is, Japanese culture is amazing in my eyes because they honour their past and make it part of their present. Shrines, temples, godly statues are all around Tokyo (and I think even more so on more rural areas) and people live their daily lives embracing that.

For this shoot, I decided to include the dolls that were all around Zojoji Temple, close to the Tokyo Tower. First, because I thought they looked cool but, later on and thanks to a friend, I learned that there's more to them. They represent safe passage to the after life for unborn children and are a sign of good fortune. People decorate them and put flowers around them, they also leave presents for Jizo, the guardian that ensures those kids' spirits move on. Going away has taught me more about cultures than any book in the planet, it has given me stories that will come back and stay with me forever.

// El espiritualismo y la religión son temas complicados. Mi mamá es una persona de fe y creo que a mi hermana también le gusta eso (son cristianas buena onda, no súper intensas ni esas locas que cantan la palabra del Señor y tocan la guitarra) pero, por alguna razón, eso nunca quedó conmigo. Yo no soy una persona religiosa y no creo que haya un poder superior dictaminando nuestras vidas; sin embargo, sí creo en energía y karma. Si haces cosas buenas, te pasan cosas buenas.

Estar en Japón me hizo pensar mucho en el espiritualismo, también estaba leyendo Kafka on the Shore de Haruki Murakami en ese entonces, quizá eso tuvo mucho qué ver con las cosas que pasaban pro mi mente. El punto es que la cultura japonesa es increíble ante mis ojos porque honran su pasado y lo hacen parte de su presente. Templos, santuarios, estatuas de dioses, todo eso está en Tokyo (y creo que es aún más fuerte en áreas más rurales) y la gente vive su vida diaria abrazando eso.

Para estas fotos, decidí incluir las muñecas que están alrededor del Zojoji Temple, cerca de la Torre de Tokyo. Primero, porque pensé que se veían padres pero, después y gracias a una amiga, supe que hay más sobre ellas. Representan un camino seguro hacia la vida después de la muerte y son un símbolo de buena fortuna. La gente las decora, pone flores alrededor y deja regalos para Jizo,  el guardián que se asegura de que los espíritus de los niños no se estanquen aquí. Irme lejos me ha enseñado más sobre culturas que cualquier libro en el planeta, me ha dado historias que regresarán y se quedarán conmigo para siempre.
Good Fortune in collaboration with HM d Good Fortune in collaboration with HM a Good Fortune in collaboration with HM b Good Fortune in collaboration with HM f Love always,
Henry.

Photographer: Key Irioda.

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