What Homma Saw Within Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine's 1,100-Year History

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the god of scholarship, has been a place of worship and a gathering point for people since its founding. The "Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Art Program" invites artists active both domestically and internationally, presenting aspects of Dazaifu and the shrine as new culture, projected through their unique perspectives, to the world and the future.

"Seeing Itself" in Takashi Homma's solo exhibition "Seeing Itself－Seeing the Unseen" is a phrase Homma often uses, focusing on the act of seeing itself. During his series of interviews at the shrine, he confronted the act of seeing the "unseen."

This exploration has culminated in a diverse array of new works, including prints, pinhole photographs taken in a camera obscura set up in a room at Kadomijinja Shrine at the foot of Mount Homan, a sacred mountain in Dazaifu, video works related to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine's rituals, and outdoor pieces to be viewed through binoculars.

On Monday, May 18th, from 6:00 PM, a satellite talk show will be held at the Mitsubishi Jisho Artium in Tenjin. Featuring a screening of the ongoing video project in Dazaifu and discussions on the exhibition's highlights, the event will be moderated by Souken Ito, an editor from Fukuoka. (Reservations required). This event is part of the Fukuoka Museum Week.

Takashi Homma "Seeing Itself－Seeing the Unseen"
Period | Sunday, April 26 - Sunday, August 30
Closed | Mondays (However, open on April 27, May 4, 18, 25, July 20)
Opening Hours | 9:00 - 16:30 (Last entry 16:00)
Venue | Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Treasure Hall, 2nd and 3rd Exhibition Rooms, Komyozenji Temple Observation Deck
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Treasure Hall, 4-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Homan-gu Kamado Shrine, 883 Uchiyama, Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture
*To reach Kamado Shrine, take the Mahoroba bus from the Miyamae bus stop near Tenmangu Shrine (approx. 6 minutes).
Admission | General ¥400 (¥300) | High School & University Students ¥200 (¥100) | Elementary & Junior High School Students ¥100 (¥50)
*Prices in parentheses are for groups of 30 or more. Holders of disability certificates receive a 50% discount for one accompanying person.
*The Kamado Shrine exhibition is outdoors. Please prepare a 100-yen coin for the tourist binoculars.

<Related Events>
Takashi Homma Satellite Talk & Screening (Moderator: Souken Ito)
Date & Time | Monday, May 18, 18:00 - 20:00 (Doors open 17:30)
Venue & Project Cooperation | Mitsubishi Jisho Artium
1-7-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, IMS 8F
Admission Fee | ¥1,000 (Includes admission to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Treasure Hall.
¥600 if presenting a ticket stub from the Treasure Hall)
Capacity | 90 people
How to Apply | Send your name, address, and phone number to art@dazaifutenmangu.or.jp. Confirmation will be sent via reply. Applications will close once capacity is reached.

Kamado Shrine | Limited Edition Work Display
Period | Tuesday, May 19 - Sunday, May 24
Viewing Hours | 10:00 - 16:00
Admission Fee | Included with Treasure Hall ticket
Venue | Kamado Shrine Assembly Hall
Content | The room used as the site for creating the pinhole works will be recreated for six days only.
*Please remove your shoes before entering. Entry may be restricted due to limited space.
Organizer | Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
Cooperation | TARO NASU, Homan-gu Kamado Shrine

Takashi Homma | HONMA Takashi
Photographer. Born in 1962. Received the 24th Kimura Ihei Award in 1999 for his photobook "Tokyo Suburb." From 2011 to 2012, held his first museum solo exhibition, "New Documentary," at three museums in Japan. Has published numerous photobooks and authored "Fun Photography: A Photography Class for Good Children." In recent years, he has presented series of pinhole works capturing cities using camera obscuras and video works. Currently a visiting professor at Tokyo Zokei University Graduate School.
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