Behind the Glass with Yosigo: Human, Space, Light

José Javier Serrano — better known as Yosigo — grew up in the gentle sea breeze of Donostia / San Sebastián. A native of the Basque Country, born in 1981, he transitioned from the disciplined world of graphic design to the open, instinctive realm of photography. After countless hours spent in front of a computer, he felt the need to rediscover the world through observation — so he picked up his camera and set out. For him, each frame is more than an image; it’s a poetic composition where emptiness, color, traces of humanity, and space intertwine.

To Accompany the Silent Rhythm

Rather than grand scenes of action, Yosigo’s photographs highlight stillness and detail. Beach loungers, apartment façades, or crowded streets are rearranged through his lens, transforming into an aesthetic rhythm. Each frame feels like an invitation — to look quietly, to observe, to notice a fleeting moment. Through this approach, his work becomes more than photography; it turns into a form of visual meditation.

Depth and Aesthetics in Frames from Japan

Among his notable projects are Kresala, Riu Avall, and Greetings From. Yet perhaps his most captivating series is the one he captured in Japan — photographs taken “behind the glass.” The towering, illuminated, and layered architecture of Tokyo elevates Yosigo’s vision to an entirely new level. Here, glass is not merely a material; it is a filter, a curtain, a tool that adds depth to the image. At the same time, it quietly yet powerfully reveals the relationship between people and their surroundings.

Layered Visibility of the City with Yosigo

In Yosigo’s Japan series, the people sitting behind the glass are mostly ordinary — sitting in a café, gazing at the light from an apartment window, or fading into the shadows of a shopfront. Through Yosigo’s lens, these everyday scenes become both visible and mysterious. His photographs capture the delicate boundary between interior and exterior, revealing the quiet interaction between human presence, space, and light.

Light, Color, and Shadows

Light and color emerge almost as characters in Yosigo’s series. Stripes cast across glass surfaces, neon reflections, and shadows create both a modern urban aesthetic and a quiet sense of poetry. As the city moves at its own pace, the photograph pauses time — people appear solitary, spaces become abstract, yet each frame carries an intense sense of life. This contrast forms a delicate balance, allowing the viewer to feel both motion and stillness within the city.

Yosigo’s photographs offer more than a single captured moment — they present a visual meditation where everyday life, light, and space converge. Through the quiet gestures of people, the play of light, and the rhythm of place, the viewer discovers the small yet unforgettable details of life in each image. As we look, we begin to feel; as we feel, we start to think — and for a moment, we become part of the city’s silent yet vibrant rhythm.

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