URBAN LGEND

Urban Legend Series (2005-)
Yoshio Itagaki
This series deals with fables or what is now commonly referred as urban legends. I am particularly intrigued by the fact that a legend is an uncensored reflections of our desires, fears, expectations or curiosity. Like the anonymity of an Internet message board, that of urban legend reveals people's true thoughts about sensitive topics including sex, death, religion and so called politically incorrect matters. A legend tends to be altered every time a person tells it to another, as in the game of "pass along." A legend always allows a storyteller to put his or her feelings and opinions into it. Regardless of whether a story is based on a real event or is fiction, a tale grows into a legend that reflects our voices. I aim to visualize my interpretations of tales and explore our fascination with these urban legends.
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 SANTA CROSS.jpg
Santa Cross (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
30x40inch/75cmx100cm, Color-Photograph
Legend: A Japanese department store once created a Christmas display featuring Santa Claus nailed to a cross.
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 Tampon Tea Bag.jpg
Tampon Tea Bag (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
40x30inch/100cmx75cm, Color-Photograph
Legend: Tea made from tampon is a nutritious supplement.
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 Antoinette's Breasts.jpg
Antoinette's Breasts (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
40x30inch/100cmx75cm, Color-Photograph
Legend: Champagne glasses were modeled on Marie Antoinette's breasts.
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 Skin Asphyxiation-007 Goldfinger 1.2.jpg
Skin Asphyxiation : 007 Goldfinger (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
30x40inch/75cmx100cm, Color-Photograph
Legend: The actress who portrayed Jill Masterson in the James Bond film Goldfinger died from asphyxiation after being covered with gold paint.
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 Cloning Jesus : The Second Coming Project.jpg
Cloning Jesus / The Second Coming Project (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
40x30inch/100cmx75cm, Color-Photograph
Legend: A group known as 'The Second Coming Project' is seeking to clone Jesus from the DNA of holy relics.
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 Spermicide.jpg
Coca-Cola Spermicide (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
30x40inch/75cmx100cm, Color-Photograph
Legend: Coca-Cola is an effective spermicide.
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 Black Statue of Liberty.jpg
Black Statue of Liberty (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
40x30inch/100cmx75cm, Color-Photograph
The Statue of Liberty was intended as a monument to the abolition of slavery, and the original model was a black woman.
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 Alien Abduction.jpg
Alien Abduction (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
30x40inch/75cmx100cm, Color-Photograph
Legend: The real meaning of the "Pedestrian only" traffic sign is "Beware of aliens kidnapping children."
Yoshio Itagaki 2005 Woman with Slit Mouth.jpg
Woman with Slit Mouth (2005) Yoshio Itagaki
40x30inch/100cmx75cm, Color-Photograph
Legend: Her mouth was mistakenly slit during a cosmetic surgery. She scares kids showing her mouth off and slashes them with her sickle.
Using Zenfolio