Sernet’sOneseries is often calledGuerrilla Tea.
These spontaneous events were recorded on camera, with the photographs serving to immortalize these ephemeral one-on-one encounters.
In doing so, he forged meaningful human connections away from the modern trappings of technology.
Denilson, Niteroi, Brazil © 2002 Pierre Sernet
Freedom of speech and dissent without fear are the cornerstones of American democracy.
Tea ceremony is based on four concepts: harmony, purity, tranquility, and respect.
These are values I feel strongly about, so you could say they are also my values.
Kheth and Mayndevi, Jaisalmer, India © 2005
The vast majority had never heard of the Japanese tea ceremonymany had never even drunk tea before.
Having said that, it has strengthened my belief in respect.
It is what I think our contemporary world has lost most.
Shinya, Rockefeller Center, NY, ©2001
I live in Japan as respect is the basis of its society.
The theme was the New Way of the Japanese Tea ceremony.
An amusing event did occur while making tea inside Grand Central Station.
Sandra and Laura, Barra Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, © 2002
They only left after the guest did.
Suddenly, many came rushing into the terminal, ordering everyone to leave due to a bomb threat.
The CRS officer heard me and said, No, you stay!
Dinh, Halong Bay, Vietnam, © 2006
Shortly after we started shooting, we heard a car going up a ramp leading to where we were.
It turned out to be a police car, and we were on the roof of their police station.
I had changed into my kimono in the police station bathrooms.
Shinya, Times Square, NY, ©2001
We spent the next four hours answering questions like, Why tea?
Making tea in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro was also an experience.
I felt that we shared a special moment in time in that unique setting.
Maite, Piazza della Vittoria, Pavia, Italy © 2002
Refused, not really, but there were different situations where we encountered unexpected reactions.
It’s one of the shots I regret most.
It can take time to get a guest to participate.
Alice, CDG, Airport, Paris, © 2002
After 50 minutes, I still had not been able to get anyone to sit.
Luckily, a paparazzo photographer came by and started telling me that he used the same camera.
After a few minutes, he agreed to sit for a bowl of tea and picture.
Cedric, The Bund, Shanghai, © 2005
After that, as usual, everyone wanted to share a bowl of tea.
This happened at Saiko Lake, one of the lakes around Mount Fuji.
She had no problem receiving a bowl of tea.
Wan Chang, Jinshanling, China, © 2005
She had the right attitude: who cares if you know how to receive the tea or not?
The spirit is far more important.
Minutes after we took the picture, Mount Fuji disappeared.
Demitris, Super Paradise, Mykonos, Greece, © 2003
Some are clearly interested, often focused, or asking questions and wanting to really experience that moment.
In other cases, they have little interest, just participating without really being there.
Quickly, I can get a sense of whether they have any interest or not.
Phwayinkosi, Zululand, South Africa, © 2008
Their honest participation is also helpful for me in getting the right shot.
I experienced very warm feelings shared by guests everywhere.
While making tea there, we were hit by a sudden rain downpour, and we all got drenched.
David, Providencia Favella, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, © 2002
In tea, this kind of feeling is often referred to as entering the tea world.
I feel all of humankind shares the same aspirations and hopes.
Fu Lai, Guangxi, China © 2005
Oscar, Capri, Italy, © 2003
Watanabe San, Saiko, Japan , © 2003
FungLien, Longsheng, China, © 2005
Daniel & Silvie, Palais de Tokyo Museum, Paris, © 2005
Kuo Chun, Construction Site, Shanghai, © 2005
Maplee, Padaung Tribe, Mae Hong Son, Thailand, © 2006
Jaswant, Osian, Rajasthan, India, ©2005
Xian Lin, People’s Park, Shanghai, © 2005
