Maxwell Anderson is a photographer and director of Bemojake books, an independent photobook publisher established in 2011. His work expands on particular everyday life experiences and relationships, investigating and conceptualising quotidian subjects.
In 2010 he was selected as a winner for the Fresh Faced And Wild Eyed award at The Photographers’ Gallery. Maxwell self-published his first book, See You Soon, in 2011, which was followed by its sequel Ten Days In July.
He was a winner of the Magenta Foundation’s Flash Forward award in 2012. Since then he has been commissioned for editorial and fashion stories, and is currently working on long-term work, Domestic Beauty and Stop Making Sense.
About ‘Yakyu’:
The height of summer. Hanshin Tigers visit the Tokyo Swallows. Sweating queues line the outside of the stadium, patiently. A compassionate atmosphere overpowered by the heat.
A family afternoon. The crowd’s chants are directed by a number of conductors staged around the arena. A unified voiced joyfully yet regimentally follows instructions on cardboard. Stand and sit, together, as and when expected.
Human confectionary stands flaunt their cash. Branded bodies. Cool beer, just the right elixir. Become human for a second. Filled up like a beaten up wagon at a gas station, worn out, but on the move again.
Noodle soup. Noodle soup.
The players are characters. The crowd is another. Worker harder than the lead roles.The night rolls over. Floodlights watch on. The crowd plays out their excitement. Things get tense, messy. Hot still. Then suddenly it’s over. The crowd dissipates. Less orderly. Drained. Tired.
All images © Maxwell Anderson