2023-Ongoing
Haunted Tourist
In the summer of 2017, over 800 neo-Nazis gathered in Berlin Spandau to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Rudolf Heß's death, Hitler's former deputy. They chose Wilhelmstraße, the site of Heß's tragic 1987 suicide, which also housed the now-demolished Kriegsverbrechergefängnis Spandau, where Heß had been imprisoned. Defying Germany's strict ban on Nazi symbols, participants boldly displayed black-white-red Deutsches Reich (German Empire) flags. Disguised as an Asian tourist, Fujiwara approached the neo-Nazis at close range, documenting the scene through his lens. These powerful images became the foundation for his series, "Bleached."
Emasculation
Fujiwara's artistic process involved carefully removing color from the photographs, with a particular focus on the flags and other symbolic elements adorning the demonstrators' clothing. This "bleaching" of imagery became a powerful metaphor, stripping away the visual impact of neo-Nazi symbolism, leaving behind stark, monochromatic compositions that challenged perceptions and the influence of these images.
Public Blank
Fujiwara extended his project by displaying these altered photographs in Berlin's public spaces, presenting them as blank canvases. This experiment probes whether the absence of explicit Nazi symbolism would deter or provoke vandalism and challenges viewers' ability to identify individuals depicted. Furthermore, his meticulous documentation extended beyond traditional methods; he used a police body camera, providing an infrared POV footage throughout the development. Routine inspections ensure the condition of the displayed photographs remains an integral part of the narrative. Fujiwara's multi-layered approach serves as a powerful commentary on the intersection of ideology, activism and image consumption in contemporary society, evoking historical propaganda and religious iconography.