Most people think the word “romantic” means something to do with love.
And this definition is not incorrect. But the true meaning of “being romantic” covers many many concepts and ideas, feelings and emotions. These include to be sentimental or idealistic, and to be adventurous, amorous, (thats love), charming, colorful, corny or even dreamy. To be “romantic” even has conflicting meanings; it can mean to be exotic, fantastic, fascinating and glamorous while at the same time it can also mean to be maudlin, mysterious or nostalgic. It can mean tender and at the same time mean wild. It’s a word full of emotion and caring and contradictions. It means passionate. Anyone who has fallen in love knows all these concepts or ideas that define “romantic”. And anyone who has been betrayed, rejected or heartbroken by a lover knows exactly how “romantic” concepts or ideas can have extremely miserable meanings and effects. But theses will be people who know very well what it is to be “alive.” Romantic people don’t just “exist” from day to day. These people are truly “living life.” But we are not talking about the Germanic “romantic” here, we’re talking about the Latin “Romântico.” So turn the heat up to the max.  Like many of us Daisuke Ito is romantico. And he is more than that. He is humanico. He challenged himself to take these photographs. He deliberately set out on an adventure, he planned to get lost. He has been heartbroken, he has fallen madly in love, he has suffered in danger and he has managed to survive and succeed. He has seen a lot along the way of his journey. This exhibition is a tiny glimpse of some of the people he met and the places he saw, so far, along the way. To be continued…