Shinmitsu
親密
Gili Benita
“Intimacy is quiet and often unseen, a moment of stillness where trust is built through what remains unspoken.”
About the artist:
Originally from Jerusalem and now based in New York City, Gili Benita’s work blends documentary and editorial practices, with a focus on themes of intimacy, identity, and cultural nuance. He is drawn to emotionally resonant stories and often works across mediums to create thoughtful, narrative-driven projects.
“As a photographer, I am drawn to spaces where I do not inherently belong, yet I am invited in through the intimacy of others. In Japan, where emotions exist between the lines of speech, capturing tenderness feels like witnessing a quiet rebellion. Each image holds personal and universal truth, revealing the contrast between who we are on the outside and inside. In documenting these moments of closeness, I, too, find my own intimacy—the quiet freedom to truly see and be seen.”
In his project “Shinmitsu 親密” , Israeli photographer Gili Benita captures the subtle ways closeness unfolds in Japan, where tenderness exists in the space between restraint and vulnerability. He explores the intimate relationships across Japan through portraits and interviews with couples, friends, and families, and debuted at Sabukaru.
In Japan, the self is often divided between an external identity, Tatemae (建前), and an internal truth, Honne (本音). Public life moves within quiet constraints, gestures are measured, emotions contained, personal thoughts left unspoken. Yet intimacy emerges in the smallest details: a glance held a second too long, a hesitation before reaching out, the quiet understanding that needs no words.
To step beyond Tatemae is to risk being seen in a way that is raw and unguarded. It requires trust, the courage to share vulnerability, and the hope of being met with recognition rather than rejection.
Through vignettes of couples, friends, and family, the images reveal moments when boundaries soften, exposing something deeply personal yet universally felt.
