The Kyoto Archive of Art by People with Disabilities

The underpass towards his neighbor’s, everyday meals, seasonal flowers, a cat staring at him, a soft serve ice cream he eats when he travels, people he has met and the moon as it floats in the night sky. They are captured through YONEDA Yuji’s own lens.

He begun to take photographs with his mother’s mobile phone when he was in the upper grade at elementary school. He got a digital camera when he was in the 3rd grade at junior high school, and ever since then he has been serious about photography.

He reviews the photos in his camera and selects some photos to be printed at a photo studio, he then compiles them in a photo album. At his home, not only has he kept all the digital data, but also he has countless physical photo albums.

He used to take his photo albums to show his friends at school when he was a high school student. He has the same enjoyment now, 2020, but instead by taking them to the daycare home that his grandmother attends. When he photographs people who he first meets, he keeps them in a special album and he hands the photo to the person when he sees them next. Taking photos is not the only way the he expresses his vision, but it is the most important way for him to communicate with others. Since the time he opened his first solo exhibition when he was in the 3rd grade as senior high school student, he has held one every year.

Photographer Mr. MAMEZUKA Takashi cooperated in the selection of his archive works in December, 2020. It was Mr. Mamezuka who helped make Yoneda’s first solo exhibition work out.