Until November 16, The Photographers’ Gallery in London presents an exhibition by Paul Cupido entitled Kacho Fugestu.
“In Japan, I learned about the saying Kachō Fūgetsu… experience the beauties of nature, and in doing so, learn about yourself.” – Paul Cupido
Paul Cupido’s second solo exhibition in the Print Sales Gallery at The Photographers’ Gallery takes its title from the Japanese idiom Kachō Fūgetsu, literally meaning “flower, bird, wind, moon.” More than a poetic description of the natural world, it reflects a centuries-old philosophy rooted in Japanese aesthetics: by observing nature’s fleeting beauty, we come to a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Influenced by his travels in Japan and the visual language of Japanese photography, Cupido’s work embraces transience and emotional resonance. These ideas echo his upbringing on the remote Dutch island of Terschelling. Surrounded by tidal flats, wide skies, and sea, he developed a profound awareness of impermanence and natural cycles. The constant ebb and flow of tides, and the waxing and waning of the moon, are reflected in his photography.
Cupido’s time in Japan later reawakened this affinity with the natural world, working with archival pigment (carbon) printing and photographic etching, he uses delicate handmade paper for tactility and soft, natural toning. The resulting prints appear to float weightlessly, suspended between reality and dream. From the fleeting cherry blossoms of the Kiso Valley to the subtropical landscapes of Okinawa, Cupido’s ethereal photographs invite us to slow down and reflect on nature’s balance of resilience and fragility.
Paul Cupido : KachoFugestu
Until November 16, 2025
The Photographers’ Gallery
16–18 Ramillies Street London
W1F 7LW
+44(0)20 7087 9300
www.tpg.org.uk
