Photography Workshop International Study Day “Japan in the Arts and Literature. Around the Photography of Michael Kenna”

As part of Grenoble Photo Month, the Lycée Champollion, with the support of Grenoble Alpes University and the Japanese Cultural Center in Paris, is launching a series of international workshops on different themes and techniques related to the photography of Michael Kenna (1953-…), a British photographer whose work has been exhibited around the world.

This first workshop aims to highlight one of the major sources of inspiration for his work: the representation of Japan. Michael Kenna has devoted numerous exhibitions and monographs to the representation of Japan, as evidenced by his series dedicated to the island of Hokkaido. His black-and-white photographs, which play on light and shadow, are reminiscent of Japanese calligraphy and show how much the country’s topography and artistic traditions have inspired his creativity.

Michael Kenna’s first visit to Japan took place in 1987. Captivated by both the landscapes and Japanese philosophy, he then travelled extensively throughout the Japanese archipelago over a period of more than 30 years. Over the years, he has captured the very essence of nature in a series of colourful works that reflect the beauty of the landscapes in all their purity. From Hokkaido to Honshu, from rock formations to Buddha statues, not to mention the Japanese countryside, the photographic series Forms of Japan (2022) and Japan. A Love Story (2024) highlight the refined forms of Japan.

You can find the international workshop programme at the following address: https://lycee-champollion.fr/spip.php?article3310

International Study Day “Japan in the Arts and Literature. Around the Photography of Michael Kenna”
Lycée Champollion, 1 cours Lafontaine, 38000 Grenoble, France
November 14th, 2025
9 AM – 5 PM