ABOUT

2011年、このプロジェクトを立ち上げた当初は、フォトグラファーやジャーナリストと取材チームを編成し、障害者施設の実情をルポタージュすることを目的にしていた。
実際に施設への訪問取材を進めるうちに、知的障害や精神疾患をもつ人たちによる創作物の魅力に引き込まれ、これらをもっと多くの人に見てもらいたい、知ってもらいたいという思いが強くなり、気がつけば活動の主軸は彼らの創作物のプロモーションへとシフトしていった。
これまでに、展覧会の企画やキュレーション、ファッションブランドへの展開、ドキュメンタリー映画製作、作者のポートレート写真集の出版など、アウトプットの領域にこだわらず、様々な手段で彼らの才能や魅力を発信してきたが、一貫して伝えたいことは、障害者を取り巻くネガティブな問題は彼らの特異性に起因するのではなく、周縁が作り出した社会の歪み（DISTORTION）だということだ。
その歪みと対峙し、真っ直ぐな眼差しを持つことの大切さを、彼らは創作を通して私たちに教えてくれている気がしてならない。

PR-y 主宰　笠谷 圭見

When I started this project in 2011, the original purpose was to team up with a photographer and journalist to cover the realities of facilities for persons with disabilities.
As I frequented Atelier Yamanami and met people there, however, I became fascinated with the works of art created by artists with intellectual disabilities or mental disorders, and felt I wanted to make their works more widely known and give them the recognition they deserve. When I realized this, the focus of the project shifted to promoting their creations.
We have communicated the talents and intriguing works of these artists to the public through a broad range of activities and platforms, including the organization and curation of exhibitions, creation of fashion brands, production of documentary films, and publication of photography books containing portraits of the artists. While the outputs of the project are disseminated in diverse ways, we remain committed to one purpose: to convey the message that the negative views toward individuals with disabilities are not due to their being different from the non-disabled, but due to the DISTORTION of society stemming from the prejudice existing among us.
Through their creations, these artists remind us of the importance of facing such DISTORTION with open eyes and being honest with ourselves.

Yoshiaki Kasatani　Director of PR-y