PHOTO FESTIVAL OFFERS NEW LENS ON PICTURESQUE KYOTO SITES

The Kyotographie International Photography Festival and its satellite event KG+ exhibit works by prominent photographers from both home and abroad at various galleries and historic structures in Kyoto.

Both events are major exhibitions in Japan that have been held annually since 2013. The ninth edition started on Sept. 18. Visitors of all ages and photographers of all skill levels, from amateur to professional, can appreciate the events.

Kyotographie exhibitions take place at 10 venues, whereas KG+ events are held at more than 40 locations across the city. Altogether, more than 50 exhibitions and educational programs will attract and entertain visitors until Oct. 17.

Kyotographie exhibitions are invitational events that feature photographers selected by the organizer, while

KG+ are open-entry events for juried photos submitted by artists of all ages. Admission fees for individual Kyotographie venues range from free to ¥1,400 (A “passport ticket” that allows the holder to enter every show once is also available). Admission is basically free for KG+ events.

While there are differences between the main exhibitions and satellite events, they share the fact that many of them are held at unique venues that have a connection with the theme of the exhibits. Through the photographs on display, visitors can also learn and expand their thoughts about related fields such as architecture and history.

Kyotographie and KG+ were started by French photographer Lucille Reyboz and Japanese lighting designer Yusuke Nakanishi.

Reyboz said there are many good photographers in Japan, but there have not been many opportunities for them to exhibit their works, adding that she wanted to build a bridge that would introduce Japanese photographers overseas and bring international photographers to Japan. By using unique venues, she wanted many people to get interested in the events, she said.

Kyotographie sets a general theme for the exhibitions every year. This year’s theme is “echo.”

The organizers decided on the theme because, “In this 10th anniversary year of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we wanted everyone to continue thinking about the new world after we overcome the pandemic,” Nakanishi said.

They wanted the word “echo” to envelop their goal of connecting the past and the present through photos, and updating the future of mankind.

KG+ has no theme, but the purpose of the event is to discover promising new photographers and curators, and offer artists opportunities to meet various people and provide them with an international platform to share their messages. The KG+ Grand Prix winner, which is chosen by juries made up of internationally acclaimed artists, can exhibit at Kyotographie the following year.

“The Record of Seeds” by Yuna Yagi is displayed in the main building of the Ryosokuin temple within the Kenninji temple precincts in Kyoto during the Kyotographie International Photography Festival.

Above: Photos by Lane Diko, a part of “Shitsurai -Offerings VII-,” are displayed at a former air-raid shelter in the Terminal Kyoto, a machiya traditional town house in Kyoto. The photos are part of the KG+ exhibitions.

A photo from the Kyotographie exhibition “Jifei Kyoto” by RongRong & inri is seen projected on a winch at the Lake Biwa Canal Museum in Kyoto. The winch was used to pull a wheeled platform for ships.

Above: Photos by Hisao Taira are exhibited in the White Shoin room in Ninnaji temple’s Goten palace in Kyoto, as part of KG+ exhibitions. The work is titled “Land of prayer nature worship.”

Visitors holding torches look at “The Wave — in Memoriam” by Richard Collasse, a Kyotographie exhibit at the Tonan Sumi-yagura (southeast watchtower) of the Nijo Castle.