KYOTOGRAPHIE ,short for international photography festival in KYOTO, is one of a few photography events that are held annually in a city that is famous for its historical atmosphere――KYOTO.
The theme for this year is “SOURCE”. As the festival’s official site states,
SOURCE “represents the beginning, the origin, the essence of all things.
KYOTOGRAPHIE
In this article, our members picked up several places we found intriguing and shared our thoughts on the experiences. We hope you find it helpful.
“Where Children Sleep”
“Where Children Sleep”
James Mollison
Location: Kyoto Art Center
While there were many works addressing social issues like war and inequality, I found Mollison’s piece refreshing. It takes a fair, descriptive look at children’s living spaces worldwide, without overly criticizing those of us in more privileged circumstances. The passport-style portraits of children, accompanied by their simple writings about hobbies and dreams, were particularly striking.
It got me thinking about the significance of bridging gaps while caring for the future of these children. The exhibition prompted me to reflect on how we should approach differences in our surroundings.
“Seed Stories”
“Seed Stories”
Thierry Ardouin
Location: Nijo-jo Castle Ninomaru Palace Daidokoro Kitchen and Okiyodokoro Kitchen
In an era of rapid population growth with 8.1 billion people on Earth, seeds inevitably become potent symbols across various civilizations. Standing inside Nijo Castle’s wooden main hall, I enjoyed experiencing seeds through the lens of photographic art.
“The Yanomami Struggle With Davi Kopenawa and Yanomami artists”
“The Yanomami Struggle With Davi Kopenawa and Yanomami artists”
Claudia Andujar
Location: Kyoto Museum of Culture Annex
Besides photographs, drawings, and videos, Andujar’s exhibition offered glimpses into the Yanomami’s spiritual realm. The installation “Yanomami Genocide: Death in Brazil” was particularly powerful, though it might take over two hours to fully engage with all the video works.
“Casablanca Not the Movie”
“Casablanca Not the Movie”
Yoriyas (Yassine Alaoui Ismaili)
Location: ASPHODEL
On the third floor, visitors could watch movies capturing Yoriyas’s real-life actions. Those who watched these before exploring the exhibits seemed to enjoy them even more. Some of the actual photographs were intentionally blurry or pitch-black, offering unique perspectives. The phrase “It’s not a movie” suggests an attempt to infuse everyday life with intrigue by presenting it from unconventional angles. It was an exhibition that left me pondering such ideas.
・・・
How was it? Did you find any intriguing pieces?
In our daily lives, we’re taught from a young age that by being cautious and avoiding risks, we can steer clear of various dangers in society and lead a normal life. Thinking about that, the actions, courage, bold exploration, and communication skills of Claudia Andujar, the artist introduced second, are truly remarkable. While modern civilization may have brought us order and rules, it might also have homogenized relationships between people, leading us to dislike uncertainty and fear adventures. Do we still have the courage to embrace the unknown? KYOTOGRAPHIE offers an opportunity to embrace the unknown, and I hope more people get to experience it.
I introduced four venues this time, but this year, there were exhibitions in 13 locations for the main program alone. Since the exhibitions are all so intriguing, I thought about buying a passport next year and planning to visit them all! There’s also a student discount, so especially for students, why not explore Kyoto in spring and enjoy some art appreciation?
Stay tuned for the next article!
コメント