On Friday, July 24th, Professor Shim Woo-hyun and students from Kyushu Sangyo University, Zokei Junior College of Art and Design held a pre-mortem portrait photography session titled "Isn't it time to have your portrait taken for your funeral?" in Sue Town (Kasuya District, Fukuoka Prefecture). This project is an ongoing initiative as part of an "off-campus art project" that provides elderly people with an opportunity to have their image preserved in a photograph that reflects their personality, and allows students to deepen their learning through interaction with local residents.
This project focuses its activities on areas where there are no photo studios or on remote islands, and where there are not enough facilities to easily take commemorative photos. We receive requests from local governments, community centers, and welfare facilities throughout the prefecture, including Sue Town, and hold events there.
At the photo shoot, the students handled everything from registration and grooming support to photography and image editing. They carefully listened to each participant's wishes, capturing natural expressions and smiles, and creating photographs that truly reflected their personalities. When handing out the finished photos, a student studying calligraphy wrote each participant's name. calligraphy And I handed it over.
During the photo shoot and while waiting for the photos to be completed, conversations naturally arose, and participants were seen catching up on each other's lives and sharing memories. A major characteristic of this project is its role in fostering community connections, and it has also become a valuable practical opportunity for students to learn about the importance of engaging with the local community and interacting with people.
Going forward, Kyushu Sangyo University, Zokei Junior College of Art and Design will continue its community service activities through photography and art, deepening its ties with the local community and connecting these experiences to students' practical learning.
[Kyushu Sangyo University, Zokei Junior College of Art and Design / Industry-Academia Co-innovation and Research Promotion Headquarters]
