Kansuke Yamamoto was a Japanese Photographer and poet. He is most recognised for his analogue surrealist works as well as his contributions to the avant-garde movement in Japan. Illogically, he is not recognised as a surrealist despite his work, utilising the distinctive characteristics of surrealism.

Figure 1 ‘Giving Birth to a Joke’ is a personal favourite of mine. The floating lips  feel characterful and add a layer of personality to the photograph. I find lips to be a particularly interesting choice; like eyes they possess the ability  to express the subtleties of emotions and are able to portray stories through their subtle visual language. Here, the lips are still and poised, alluding to a moment of contemplation as well as intimacy. I would imagine the surrounding face to be still, with a purposeful gaze. Furthermore, the posture of the lips depict a stillness that can be felt by the viewer and subsequently prompt them to engage with the feelings of the imagery. As in Laura Marks’s conceptualisation of Haptic visuality, the body of the viewer becomes a mechanism for processing the emotions portrayed by the imagery.

The juxtaposition of body against the sea feels harmonious and cohesive. The gentle motion of the sea feels delicate and ethereal, working to accentuate the delicate nature of the human form. This composition creates a beautifully poetic symbiosis of the female body and nature. The large scale of the body against the sea conveys it in a divine and otherworldly manner, mirroring the vastness and power of the sea.