November | 2015 | kosuke haga

（日本語は下にあります↓）

On one rather hectic morning in August, I received a phone call from my friend Erik who I have been losing touch for years since our paths had diverged from entertainment battlefield also known as Los Angeles. I still remember the last time I saw him in Los Angeles back in 2013 after my return to US from short expedition to UK. Nothing much has changed in our friendship since and we were still the same human being but obviously leading different lives as far as our career paths go. The days of working together on video projects back in college are behind us; Erik continued on his passion in filmmaking while I gradually deviated from that path. We had a good drink and chat at the old LA stomping ground (“Bigfoot West” to be precise) and promised to work together in different projects whenever we get the opportunity to call that shot.

Two years later, a surprising phone call from Erik molded the weekend of adventure in the nowhere land otherwise known as Oakdale California. The idea was this: Erik’s girlfriend, Alyssa, is working for lifestyle magazine and needed someone to photograph the moments at Symbiosis Gathering for her article. And that lucky “someone” turned out to be me. Ticket for the press was held at the box office so I drove over to the festival ground next morning – picked up few lifeline supplies (e.g., snacks and some fresh strawberries from farm vendors along Route-120 en route to Yosemite’s direction) – showed up at the entrance, did a little bit of finagling to prove myself as the press person (thanks to Alyssa’s help) and BADA BING! I have entered the gate to the wonderland in the name of Symbiosis Gathering!

I don’t really think explaining Symbiosis Gathering in word would do any justice, so here’s some photos from the event to give you the idea. If you force me to describe the event in one phrase, it’s basically “Burning Man veterans’ weekend excursion.” The festival was packed with music, yoga classes, comedy, arts, and lot of arts.
This was actually my first attendance to car camp style multi-day festival. Needless to say, everything was entirely fresh experience for me:

I’ve never been to Coachella and don’t think I would ever pay big money to attend those giant festivals where type of music are overly scattered, but Symbiosis Gathering has figured out the perfect formula for their concept. Symbiosis Gathering was not a music festival, it was an art festival all packed into one place with decisive parade of music. Point and objective was crystal clear.

Music plays a major role in any form of art festival. In my opinion, lineup of music acts is what determines the overall tone of festival.
I dislike the festivals that try to bring in every musician from every genre imaginable to cater for “I listen to everything” crowd. I rather want to be at festival where type of music is focused and furthermore creates determined ambiance for the event. Riot Fest is one of the only music festivals I pay attention these days mainly for this reason. Anyways, despite the wide range of so-called music genres involved, Symbiosis Gathering was thematically on target: mind-exploration and unhinging the bodies to dance.

Nicolas Jaar was definitely my highlight of the festival and he was slotted at the most important hour on Saturday night. Stellamara was also striking experience as far as live music goes. I would urge anyone who likes live music to see them whenever possible. All in all, musicians selected to perform at this festival seemed to find themselves in the right place and audience was well accepting.

Comedians and slam poets performed at this festival was also intriguing. The main tent in the heart of festival ground served not only as a sanctuary from the beating sun but also a community space for people to exchange new ideas and perspectives on things. The tent also lit up nicely at night and provided beautiful mood for photography and relaxation lounge. There were several interesting lectures on sustainable living and survival classes held at other tents as well.

Above all, the great event is most enjoyable with great company.
I must thank Erik and Alyssa for bringing me on board to take photos and fully experience this amazing event. I am glad to see everything came together after long hours of work; please check out Alyssa’s work on Wild Spice Magazine for her continuing effort on creative passion.

On a different note, this may or may not be my last post of the year as I have some traveling plans and new ideas for next project sprouting. If you haven’t done so, please like my facebook page and follow me on Twitter (@poachedeggquest); these are the best sources to get the most up to date stories on my end in a meantime.

Hope you all have a wonderful rest of the year. See you in 2016!
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-Kosuke

大学時代の友人で今も映像製作業に全力で取り組んでるエリックという友人がいます。僕がLAに引っ越して一年後にボストンから研修先を求めてやって来た彼は僕と同じく孤立無援の新天地で新しい人とのつながりと協力を得ながら成長していった言わば後輩的な存在なのですが、今ではPVやコマーシャルの編集などで活動している現役のアーティストで、僕も尊敬している人です。

2013年にLAを離れて6ヶ月間渡英していた時期がありましたが、アメリカに戻ってから直後にLAに出張することがあり、その際に一度再会したのをあとに2年間ほどなかなか連絡を取り合うこともありませんでしたが、ひょんなことでイベントの写真撮影の協力をする機会があり、ヨセミテ国立公園の玄関口ともいえるオークデールという田舎町で行われたSymbiosis Gatheringというヒッピー系のイベントで再会を果たしました。

Symbiosisは英語で共存という意味がありますが、それはたとえばクマノミ（魚）がイソギンチャクと連携関係にあるような意味合いを含んでいて、メインとなっているテーマは「自然と人類の共存」という筋金入りのヒッピー理論に基づいたフェスティバルだったのです。

まるで予備知識もなく、エリックと彼のガールフレンドに言われるがままに会場のあるオークデールまで来ましたが、これがすごいインパクトでした。どれぐらいすごいインパクトだったかというと、それはたとえばメキシコとカリフォルニアの国境沿いにある町ティフアナとか外国人観光客でごった返しているタイのリゾート・アイランドのような「フリーキー」で一見「無法地帯のようだ」とでも表現しましょうか。荒地の真ん中にポツリとある湖の畔に展開されたフェスティバル会場のゲートをくぐるとそこはまさに『Mad Max』とか映画に出てくるような無国籍で自由奔放な世界が広がっていました。至る所に巨大なアートが展示され、人は皆思うがままの衣装に身を包み（あるいは一切包まず笑）砂塵の舞う荒れた大地を行き交う難民の群れのような趣がありました。フェスティバルの会場は湖に向かって突き出た島の中に広がり、30℃は余裕で超えた炎天下から逃れるかのように人々は次々と水に飛び込み、浮かぶ奇怪な船には巨大なアンプとDJセットが組み込まれそこから沸き起こる爆音の音楽に人々は踊り狂い、これがコミューンに住む共同体というものなのか？と訳のわからないまま一人合点せざるをえない光景でした。
いやぁ、本当におもろいものを見せてもらった。