From 794 to 1868, Kyoto has been the imperial capital of Japan and today is well-known for its graceful zen gardens and more than 2000 magnificently preserved Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Kyoto is still a capital in Japan for art and culture.
For the first time in the city, Kyotographie International Photography Festival will create new synergies between the Kyoto’s history focused on culture, such as craftsmanship, architecture and religion, with the traditional Japanese and contemporary trends in photography. All the exhibitions are set up in amazing venues (museum, temples and castles) that are an important part of the festival, the city and its unique locations have absolutely an active role. Visitors can see masters from the origins of photography to contemporary masters, from fantastic anonymous hand-colored albumen prints collected by Christian Polak to the visionary black and white images of Eikoh Hosoe or the long-term fashion work of Naoki on the concept of Japanese contemporary woman. The international dimension is well represented by portrait photographer Kate Barry, the daughter of actress Jane Birkin, and Mali photographer Malick Sidibé.
Japan is one of the country where the photographic school and tradition is intense and wisely ecletic, the festival shows part of this Japanese eclecticism with the exhibitions of Seiwemon Onishi, Shiro Takatani and Tadashi Ono.
There are satellite exhibitions under the name of KG+ dedicated to emergent young artists.
Lucille Reyboz is co-founder and co-executive director, with Yusuke Nakanishi, of the festival.
We talked to her just a few hours before the opening of Kyotographie.
Where did the idea for the festival come from?
L. Reyboz : The idea came to Yusuke Nakanishi (lighting designer) and myself (photographer) when we moved to Kyoto following the March 11 earthquake. For various reasons we decided to leave Tokyo and change our lives after the disaster. We both wanted to do something new and positive for Japan.
Can you tell us about KG+?
L. R : KG+ is the satellite festival for Kyotographie, which allows us to offer even more exhibition space for emerging artists. Kyoto is full of art universities and talented young people.
Kyoto is a sophisticated city. What do you hope to offer visitors in terms of education?
L. R : True, Kyoto is a cultural capital. But Japan is a country of many paradoxes. Images are part of everyday life in Japan, the Japanese produce cutting-edge photo equipment and technology, and many talented Japanese photographers have left their mark on the medium. But those artists, renowned abroad exhibited by museums and valued by collectors, receive little attention and appreciation in their native country. Things are slowly changing but much of it remains confidential.
With Kyotographie, photography will be on display throughout the city. We intentionally chose to exhibit in heritage sites like temples, machiyas and tea houses in order to bring photography to people in their everyday lives. We relied on the help of local designers, scenographers and artisans, who are the soul of the city.
The festival is lucky to be exhibiting in some great locations. Why are the venues so important? What are your ambitions for the festival?
L. R : We hope that each edition of the festival will reach a larger and larger audience, and also that it will appeal to the general public as well as photo lovers.
Lucky people in Kyoto and Japan, go visit and support the first edition of Kyotographie!
Eliseo Barbàra
京都グラフィー 国際写真フェスティバル
Kyotographie International Photography Festival
From April 13 to May 6, 2013
Eikoh Hosoe
Kodaiji Tacchu Entokuin
530 Shimogawara-cho, Kodaiji Higashiyama-ku
Kyoto, 603-8146
Japan
