ART | KYOTOGRAPHIE Kyoto International Photography Festival Begins, Adorning 15 Venues Across Kyoto City

ART | Theme: "TRIBE - Where Do You Belong?"

KYOTOGRAPHIE Kyoto International Photography Festival Adorns 15 Venues Across the City

The international photography festival, KYOTOGRAPHIE, will be held from Saturday, April 18th to Sunday, May 10th. This year's theme is "TRIBE - Where Do You Belong?". Fourteen exhibitions, exploring various "tribes" that transcend ties of blood or region, will be presented across 15 venues. In Kyoto, a city steeped in Japanese tradition, viewing these photographs will likely evoke questions within us: "Where do we stand, what do we belong to, and what do we aspire to belong to?"

Text by YATA VATTANI Yumiko

Discovering "Individuality," "Love," and "Life" Through the Lens of TRIBE

KYOTOGRAPHIE Kyoto International Photography Festival

Apolinaire Le Brun, "Samurai of Japan," 1864, from the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts © Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts

KYOTOGRAPHIE has consistently demonstrated its prowess in realizing exhibitions by showcasing collections rarely introduced in Japan and by highlighting artists currently garnering global attention. For its third iteration, the festival will feature the world premiere of portrait photographs of samurai, taken during the late Edo period, from the photography collection of the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts, which boasts Europe's largest collection of Asian art. South African artist Roger Ballen, whose collaboration with Comme des Garçons at Paris Men's Fashion Week in February garnered significant attention, will also have his first exhibition of this scale in Japan.

Not to be missed is Baudouin Mouanda's exhibition "Gentlemen of Congo: The Aesthetics of Sapeurs," which captures the "Sapeurs," a society of Congolese men known for their flamboyant fashion sense, a phenomenon that Paul Smith has publicly embraced. The exquisite color balance of their socks peeking from the cuffs of their trousers, their vibrant and cheerful style, represents the Congolese people's wisdom for overcoming the hardships of civil war and daily life through the power of fashion, reminding us of the importance of style.

One of the festival's charms is its setting in Kyoto, a globally renowned tourist destination. The exhibition venues include historical structures not typically open to the public, such as Ryōsōin (within Kennin-ji Temple) and Karaku-an (Noguchi Residence), offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy Kyoto sightseeing alongside the photography.

The exhibition by Kimiko Yoshida, a Paris-based artist, is held at Karaku-an (Noguchi Residence), a designated cultural property of Kyoto. This event is realized with the support of Gucci as part of the 50th-anniversary sister city initiative between Florence and Kyoto. Collaborations with Kyoto's traditional crafts are also a must-see, such as the large hanging scroll created by master craftsman Naohachi Usami, who has tailored Kyoto's traditional Yuzen dyeing for the Noguchi family, formerly a kimono merchant.

Kimiko Yoshida, "Painting (Paolo Uccello's The Battle of San Romano)," Self-Portrait, 2010 ©Kimiko Yoshida

The Fosco Maraini exhibition is housed in a charming traditional building in the Gion Shinbashi area. Before its major renovation to become the Pass the Baton Kyoto store this summer, the venue design by Swiss designer Oliver Franz, which harmoniously blends the character of the old Japanese house with Maraini's photographs of Japanese ama (female pearl divers) from the 1950s, is a sight to behold. Furthermore, a paper tube pavilion designed by architect Shigeru Ban has appeared in front of Kyoto City Hall. This pavilion serves as the venue for the exhibition "The Soul of the Indigenous Peoples of Tierra del Fuego—"Selk'nam, Yaghan, and Kawésqar" by Martín Gusinde.

Ryōsōin (within Kennin-ji Temple)

In partnership with the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York, a special three-day masterclass will be held to impart knowledge and techniques for international-standard photography production. This is a rare opportunity to receive ICP instruction in Japan, a path many aspire to for overseas study. Additionally, a portfolio review, featuring a diverse lineup of reviewers including Sam Stourdzé, the new director of the Arles International Photography Festival, and Éric Piffaretti, who is active as the creative director of "Le Monde M" magazine, is a new initiative starting this year. Over 45 diverse events are planned, including workshops, talks, and music live performances. A booklet titled "Kids Passport," filled with questions and stories to help children enjoy the exhibitions from their perspective, will also be available. Stamps will be placed at each venue for a stamp rally.

Kyoto Jazz Sextet

On Sunday, April 26th, a jazz live dinner event featuring Shuya Okino's new project, Kyoto Jazz Sextet, will be held, featuring the Francis Wolff exhibition. Kiyoshi Kikutchi will join as a special guest.

Satellite events, KG+ (Kei-Ji-Plus), primarily featuring exhibitions by emerging domestic and international artists, will also be held at approximately 50 venues, including galleries and cafes throughout the city. KYOTOGRAPHIE's banners will flutter across Kyoto, bringing the joy of photography to many.

Underlying this year's theme are "individuality," "love," and "life." Whether club kids, samurai, Congolese Sapeurs, or Patagonian tribespeople, or jazz musicians, "everyone is different, and everyone is good." Just as Misuzu Kaneko's poetry empowers us living in modern times, this year's KYOTOGRAPHIE Kyoto International Photography Festival will invigorate everyone from children to adults.

KYOTOGRAPHIE Kyoto International Photography Festival 2015
Dates: Saturday, April 18 - Sunday, May 10
Tickets: Passport General ¥2,500, Students (University, High School, Vocational) ¥1,500
*Sold at each paid venue. Allows one entry to all venues during the festival period.
Tel. 075-708-7108
www.kyotographie.jp