Mariko Kuwahara - Shopping Street

During an artist-in-residence in Beppu, Japan, Mariko Kuwahara became fascinated by an old shopping street, covered with an arcade, that had slowly fallen into decline. Over two months, she visited ten shops, speaking with shopkeepers about their memories and documenting their stories. Kuwahara bought an old analogue camera from the 89-year-old owner of a camera shop, who had once led the shopping street association, and photographed the street, capturing shuttered storefronts and the few shops that remained. 'Shopping Street' is a portrait of the small shops and their shopkeepers in Beppu, a once bustling street that has come to an end after 70 years.