Friends Dressed in Blue Sheets Like Dresses

Vanessa Franklin has been living in Japan since January 2011. Among the many objects she encountered in Japan, she became particularly fascinated by the blue vinyl sheets found everywhere in daily life. She views the blue sheets, used in important everyday moments from fireworks festivals to construction sites and emergency supplies, as an embodiment of contemporary Japanese culture.

Captivated by the diverse variability of the blue sheets, she collaborated with stylist Kosai Matsuda to photograph friends wrapped in the sky-blue material as if it were a dress. The exhibition showcases a collection of works that explore the different identities of the blue sheet through various stylings.

Normally an unremarkable sheet of plastic, by recycling it as a fashion item, Franklin—who also works as a fashion and advertising photographer—presents the existence of "beauty" within the utterly ordinary. This perspective is also evident in her work.

The exhibition also features works that create striking contrasts with the subdued colors of Japanese cities, the typical vermilion used in religious architecture, and the soft, seasonal landscapes, using elements like blue sheets. Infused with a natural, restrained elegance, these pieces are calm, alluring, and subtly satirical, delving into the essence of "Beautiful Japan" and the hearts of its people.

Vanessa Franklin Solo Exhibition "Bleu"
Period: Saturday, April 12th - Friday, May 2nd (Closed Sundays, Mondays, and National Holidays)
Hours: 11:00 - 19:00
Venue: Imura Art Gallery Kyoto
31 Higashi Maruta-cho, Kawabata Higashi-iru, Maruta-machi-dori, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Tel. 075-761-7372