To the Western eye, the Japanese aesthetic is often surprising, characterized by a marked sensitivity towards the subject, its colours, and its surroundings. The photography of Fumito Shibasaki embodies this cool, discreet style, and has an instant appeal to the viewer. In the series “Dolls”, the title reveals what we overlook at first glance: Through a clever combination of light and shadow, of bright-dark contrasts and iridescent hues of gold, Shibasaki achieves an optical elevation of the models, giving them an almost human appearance. It is only on closer inspection that we understand