Ulana Switucha has spent the last decade photographing Japan’s symbolic torii gates, a journey that has taken her across the country, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south. In our March issue (OP 327) she discusses her quest to capture the splendour of these sanctuaries in their natural environment.
‘Torii are symbols of Japanese culture and spiritual practice; they are not just gates we pass through when visiting a shrine,’ she explains. ‘According to Shinto belief, torii are the gateway between the profane and spiritual worlds: by going through a torii, one leaves everyday reality and enters a sacred space.
‘Moreover, torii that stand in the natural landscape are a reminder that deities (kami) reside in the mountains, rivers and trees, as well as in objects or places that are considered sacred. This belief reflects a respect for the environment and a view that each element of nature has a spiritual essence. All are traditionally associated with the Shinto spiritual practice, and in some cases, with ancient legends and mythology. The gates act as a reminder of the precious beauty and delicate nature of our environment.’
Ulana’s beautiful photographs are collected in Torii, a hardback book published by Blue Lotus Editions.