Comprising 15 main programs and over 100 sub-programs, this event is truly a "festival" of photography.
The theme for 2023 is "BORDER".
However, the photographs that were spread throughout the city of Kyoto and seemed to be integrated into the city of Kyoto without any boundaries.
I began to enjoy photo exhibitions last summer, and from that time on, I was determined to go to this year's event. Although I was only able to stay for about three days, the three days were filled with so much stimulation and excitement that it easily exceeded the expectations I had built up over the past year.
The usual photo exhibitions are typically enjoyed by just my wife and me. However, this time, our daughter joined us, making it a long-awaited family trip as well. I had some concerns that our daughter, who doesn't usually engage with photography, might find it boring, but when we opened the door to the event, she was the one enjoying it the most. With a pamphlet in hand, she was asking, "Where are we going next?" and "What was your favorite?" It seemed as if she embodied the spirit of this photo festival. During this trip, in addition to the photo exhibition, we explored historical sites like temples and shrines, so unfortunately, we reached the time limit without being able to attend all 15 main programs. But there's always next year to continue. That's how strongly I feel about what a fantastic photo festival it was.
Let me briefly introduce the content, artworks, and atmosphere of each program we visited this time, in the order we experienced them.
Programs
Slide
09
Yuriko Takagi
PARALLEL WORLD
Nijo-jo Castle Ninomaru Palace
There isn't a specific reason for choosing this exhibition as our first stop, but in the end, I feel it was a great decision to begin here. The portraits adorned in traditional costumes from various countries harmonized exceptionally well with this significant historical location, Nijo Castle. It exuded an aura of grandeur and magnificence. Personally, it left the strongest impression on me.
Based on interviews with Mr. Matsumura, who is also a newspaper journalist, this artwork revolves around the theme of dementia. It's presented as an installation that simulates the experience of dementia symptoms. One of the exhibits features a voice counting the numbers of dementia patients, but it's unable to reach 5, endlessly repeating from 1 to 4. Honestly, this voice filled me with a sense of fear. However, it also made me contemplate the possibility that such a day might come for my family and me. In that moment, I wondered if I would be able to reconnect the threads that have been severed.
When I saw this piece on the website before visiting, I thought it was an artwork using mirrors or something similar. However, I was surprised when I watched a video introducing the process of creating the artwork at the venue. In reality, it's a piece that intricately cuts out photos and expresses them in three dimensions. What left an impression on me was Marbel, who resides in Cuba, discussing in the video how "the sea is a symbol of peace but can also be the source of conflict."
A work centered around the theme of "Death of Familiar Women," created by two photographers, Ishiuchi Miyako and Touyama Yuhki. The photos depict personal aspects such as belongings and places where these women spent their time. While the theme is "death," unlike the unsettling fear that Mr. Matsumura's "threads of the heart" instilled, these works evoke a sense of emotions and feelings towards the deceased individuals.
A grand work by Mr. Yamauchi, who visited Yakushima over an extended period, spending a month each time alone in the forest. The exhibition includes installations that depict the dark forest, particularly impressive, and a humid storage surrounded by earthen walls that represent life on Yakushima. Among them, the photograph that likely captures the brilliantly colored forest illuminated at night stands out and remains especially memorable.
"Medicine," something we commonly use without much thought. This exhibition features works that delve into medicines from various angles, regardless of nationality, gender, or age. My wife and daughter, who specialize in the medical field, seemed particularly interested and were discussing while appreciating the exhibits together. The abundant explanations provided added depth, making it genuinely fascinating and enjoyable to watch – an exhibition that provided both new knowledge and an interesting experience.
Artworks by Joana Choumali that involve collages and embroidery applied to landscape photographs taken during his morning walks. At first glance, they appear like paintings, but upon closer inspection, the presence of embroidery becomes evident. The exhibited pieces include works created during his visit to Japan for KYOTOGRAPIE, and while I was hoping they were embroideries on Japanese landscape photographs, it turns out they depict scenes from his homeland, Côte d'Ivoire. I'm curious to see what the result would be if he applied this technique to Japanese landscapes.
KG+ is a sub-program of KYOTOGRAPIE, held at various facilities within Kyoto City. The larger venues are the Horikawa Oike Gallery and Kyoto Arts Center, but there are many other locations as well. With renowned photographers and emerging talents participating, it would likely take more than a week to visit them all. It's almost enviable for those residing in Kyoto.
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Slide
While touring several venues, I occasionally spotted individuals I had seen elsewhere. Even though I didn't engage in conversation, there was a sense of camaraderie (self-imposed) that I felt. Additionally, the interactions with staff at every venue were genuinely pleasant. I heard that many volunteers were also involved, with some having dedicated several years to this effort. Businesses like Hondaya Genbee, a sash shop that is one of the venues, continue their regular operations while providing space for the exhibitions. It's truly remarkable to see such a community-wide endeavor.
This year was my first time attending, and there were many things I didn't know. I plan to use this experience to my advantage and explore more next year. I'm already looking forward to next year.
04.23.2023
KYOTOGRAPHIE 2023 https://www.kyotographie.jp
Exhibition Period: April 15th (Saturday) - May 14th (Sunday), 2023
