Baba Saori
Born in Fukuoka. Lives and works in Fukuoka
2023 Outstanding Work Award, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi International Photography Contest 2024 (Taiwan)
2022 His name is Chih-Wei Peng, Sony Imaging Gallery Ginza (Tokyo)
2018 Excellence Award, EPSON meet up! Selection (Tokyo)
2016 The View Through My Blood, Sony Imaging Gallery Ginza (Tokyo)
2015 2.7％, Nikon Salon Shinjuku (Tokyo)
［Residence Program］ Jul 8, 2025〜Oct 2, 2025
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Profile
Baba Saori is a photographer and Doctor of Fine Arts born in Fukuoka, Japan. After completing her graduate studies at Kyushu Sangyo University, she served as an Assistant Professor at Tainan University of Technology in Taiwan and is currently a specially appointed associate professor at the University of Kitakyushu. Drawing on her personal experience with breast cancer, she creates works that explore themes such as the body, gender, and social minorities. Her major projects—2.7%, The View Through My Blood, and His name is Chih-Wei Peng—have garnered attention in exhibitions held both in Japan and abroad. As a researcher, she publishes scholarly work on women photographers and photographic culture in Taiwan, bridging photography and society through both artistic and academic practice.
2.7%,2014 - ongoing
The View Through My Blood,2010 - ongoing
His name is Chin-Wei Peng,2021 - 2024
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2025 Illuminate Our Life
Exhibition view Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Photo HENRO Project – The Eternal Return of Memory 2025, 2025 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Photo HENRO Project – The Eternal Return of Memory 2025, 2025 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Photo HENRO Project – The Eternal Return of Memory 2025, 2025 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Photo HENRO Project – The Eternal Return of Memory 2025, 2025 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Photo HENRO Project – The Eternal Return of Memory 2025 – on the way, 2025 Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Exhibition view Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
Interaction Diary
September 14 Artist Talk
(Artist Cafe Fukuoka)
After having the audience look at the work freely, everyone gathered in the community space, where Baba showed photo slides and described photo shoots as a form of training, how she took photos in familiar locations and other aspects, such as her struggles with installing her work.
September 13 WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2025 Illuminate Our Life (Artist Cafe Fukuoka)
Baba exhibited Photo HENRO Project – The Eternal Return of Memory 2025 and Photo HENRO Project – The Eternal Return of Memory 2025 – on the way.
Photo by Kawasaki Ittoku
August 29 Printing the Photography Works
On this day, Baba printed 88 photographs on clear film, with the help of Prof. Momose Toshiya at Kyushu Sangyo University. She also printed a large-scale work, measuring 1m in height and over 4m in width.
August 19 Exhibition Preparation
Baba worked on building the structure to hang her photography work in studio where a scaffold was set up.
August 8 Exhibition Preparation
To prepare for her installation work featuring a series of photographs that number up to 88,
Baba started making samples of her work and planning the hanging display in the studio,
along with photo-shooting.
August 7 Shooting in Fukuoka City
To make 88 pieces of photographs to be used for the residency artwork, Baba visited some familiar or relatable places in Fukuoka.
August 2 Welcome Gathering with the Museum Volunteers
Artists were invited to join a gallery tour of the exhibition Fukuoka Asian Art Museum Best Collection Ⅲ Breaking the Conventional: New Self-Portraits, organized by gallery guide volunteers. After the tour, they joined a gathering where participants brought in food and enjoyed a casual conversation.
July 26 Kick-off Talk and Workshop (Artist Cafe Fukuoka)
Baba talked about her previous photography works –among which are self-portraits of herself diagnosed with cancer, some images of the everyday life of international students in Fukuoka, and portraits overlaying images of her own blood, as well as some video works she made in Taiwan when she stayed there. Baba also described her plan for the new work for this residency, in which she wishes to combine 88 photographs developed under a theme of pilgrimage, referred to as “tunagi henro.”
July 10 Museum Backyard Tour
Artists took time to see the collection show as well as some backyard facilities including the reference library, storage, archive, and shooting room, where they were given some detailed explanations from each appointed staff.
July 9 First Day in Artist Cafe Fukuoka
Baba met some museum staff and coordinators for the first time. After the orientation meeting and a guided tour in the museum, Baba biked around the area with other artists nearby Artist Cafe Fukuoka.
