Becky Alp | Japan
Japan-based conceptual photographer and artist Becky Alp has been a photographer and performance artist for the past ten years.
She started her artistic career in college, and investigates themes like surrealism, abstraction, and death. She has also held multiple performance art shows, workshops, and international solo and group exhibitions.
Read more of our interview with Becky below.
How did you first get into photography?
I had this creative project assignment in college for one of my classes. Our professor asked us to use any type of medium for the project. The task was to capture the essence of a chosen theme, so I decided to use photography. I did not own a camera or know anyone who had modeled before, but I knew what I wanted to do. So I rented a camera from my school and asked my flatmates to model for me. What was the result? I was nominated for an award.
After this tiny experience, I had a few self-doubting moments, moments I now consider I needed to get to where I am today, but this is when I started my photography journey, with the help of my professor who nominated me for that award, and the project who challenged me to be creative and try something new for the first time.
What subjects or themes do you most enjoy photographing and why?
The human body, in all its complexity, has always been a subject of profound fascination for me. From the early days of my photographic journey, I was drawn to the challenge of capturing its essence. The juxtaposition of beauty and taboo subjects, such as deformities, the horror that can accompany diseases, and even death, held a unique allure for me.
These themes, often considered unconventional, sparked a deep curiosity in me. In those early days, I usually explored these themes through self-portraiture, using my own body as a canvas for my artistic exploration.
While I continue to be fascinated by the human body, my recent work has explored more surreal and abstract themes. This exploration has allowed me to push the boundaries of my creativity and expand my artistic horizons.
Can you share a memorable project or a photo series you’ve worked on?
I organized a group photoshoot with two other photographers, two videographers, and 11 models just over a year ago. The shoot was a great experience, but it only lasted a day.
I felt like the experience should have stayed longer, so I curated a little exhibition inspired by the shoot called ‘Aurora.’ To this day, I think it was one of the most memorable projects I’ve worked on.
What has been your proudest moment as a photographer?
In this digital age, my true photography satisfaction comes from seeing my work printed. While digital platforms make my work accessible, the physical display of my work truly fulfills me as an artist.
My proudest moments have been the opportunities to display my work at art galleries. Seeing my work in a physical space, alongside other artists, fills me with a profound sense of accomplishment that digital platforms cannot replicate.
Participating in a group exhibition in Seoul, South Korea, this year was one of these moments. The experience filled me with pride and a sense of artistic achievement, and I look forward to similar opportunities in different venues, galleries, and cities worldwide.
How do you stay creative?
Creativity, for me, is a product of my life experiences. Everything I experience, expose myself to, or have been exposed to, mostly unwillingly, contributes to that creativity. I do not seek out creativity. I do not plan it or try to do certain things to inspire myself for creativity to come out; I simply let anything and everything around me inspire me and let those creative juices flow. It is a fascinating journey: the moment a creative idea pops into my mind, I find a way to interpret it and realize it in real life. It is the most fascinating part of any project for me.
Recently, I had the opportunity to share this creative process in front of an audience at a workshop I held in Kosovo. It was a truly nerve-wracking experience for me. Until then, I had considered the creative process, from the first spark of an idea to the day of the photoshoot, an extremely personal journey. So, to open up and let strangers see parts of this process was a significant challenge for me. However, it was also a rewarding experience that allowed me to connect with others who share my passion for photography.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned through photography?
My most important lesson through photography is learning to control, manipulate, and use my emotions and feelings as inspiration. Most of the time, humans tend to find ways to eliminate negative emotions. But for me, acknowledging those feelings and turning them into a creative project has been the most rewarding lesson.
All of my photos have a little bit of myself in them; they represent all the emotions I go through and are the most beautiful representations of myself I could ever accomplish. For instance, when I'm feeling particularly introspective, I might create a series of self-portraits that delve into the complexities of my own mind. It is an important lesson to learn not just as an artist but also as a woman.
What has your experience been as a female photographer in a traditionally male-dominated field?
For me, the struggle is about the male gaze. The male gaze, a concept popularized by film critic Laura Mulvey, refers to the way visual arts and literature depict the world and women from a masculine point of view, presenting women as objects of male pleasure. Like in every other creative field, the male gaze is still the most dominant perspective, and it is tough to be accepted with a female gaze.
I have often been told that my work is too personal and emotional, which is supposed to be a negative and almost destructive thing. The reputation that female photographers or the female gaze have is very tarnished. Many still consider the female gaze in photography to be shooting more conventionally beautiful images, pretty landscapes, or self-portraits.
In contrast, men like to go out and explore in the wild or on the streets and have rougher styles or can handle more, which is still a prevalent belief. One day, people will realize that female photographers can be as rough, ugly, and ambitious as any male photographer.
What message do you hope to convey through your photography to other women?
My goal is to challenge traditional norms in photography. We need more creative platforms to express our voices and destroy stereotypical beliefs. By using more surreal, abstract, and unconventional themes and subjects and creating images that can still be beautiful but also quite disturbing, I am contributing to other women who want to change these stereotypical norms and the norms that come with the male gaze. I aim to show the world that a boudoir photoshoot can be done by not objectifying and sexualizing women but by showing the inner and abstract sexuality of gender-fluid humans. I strive to challenge what we are all used to seeing in magazines or photography books.
One of my biggest goals has been to tell young female photographers early on that they can shoot their desires, lusts, sins, passions, emotions, and what they consider traditionally beautiful, as well as landscapes, street style, fashion…, and anything that they are passionate about. There is no gender when it comes to art and creativity, and we shouldn’t be labeling different styles as things that the opposite gender can or cannot do.
