Photo Festivals and Travel Might Be Similar | Musings from a KYOTOGRAPHIE Intern
Hello. I'm Higuchi, the intern in charge of this fourth article!
This time, I'd like to share something I'm interested in.
I'm a huge travel lover who heads abroad on a whim whenever I have free time.
So far, I have traveled to over 20 countries and regions, including Asia, Europe, and Africa. Through my internship at KYOTOGRAPHIE, I have come to think...
Aren't travel and KYOTOGRAPHIE (a photo festival) actually similar, even if they seem different...?
Based on my own experiences, I would like to think about what kind of fun awaits when you visit KYOTOGRAPHIE? As a travel lover, I want to explore this while linking it to travel!
About the word "travel"
Before diving into the main topic, I would like to define the word "travel."
Words often associated with travel include "sightseeing" and "trips," but these two terms are often used to convey an image of lighthearted, fun entertainment, which is a bit different from the image I have of "travel."
In this article, I define "travel" as
stepping away from a cookie-cutter daily life to experience different cultures and climates in an unfamiliar land. Also, interacting with the people living in that land. In the process, it is something where you feel excitement, encounter nostalgic scenes, and sometimes make new discoveries.
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Is going to KYOTOGRAPHIE similar to traveling?
"I think I like the color scheme." The impact of an exhibition I jumped into for an unexpected reason
Although this is my first year participating in KYOTOGRAPHIE as an intern, I have been visiting the venues as a spectator almost every year for about eight years.
And among the exhibitions that have moved me every year, the one that remains particularly memorable is Prince Gyasi's exhibition in 2022.
At the time, I felt a shock like being struck by lightning.
As soon as I entered the venue, I was greeted by walls of vivid colors. Moving further in, I found a space filled with African music that made me want to start dancing, where I could enjoy the works.
Until then, my image of a photo exhibition was "a place where photographers display works using expensive cameras and lenses" and "a place with a quiet atmosphere."
However, even though most of Prince Gyasi's exhibited works were shot using an iPhone, they were not the kind of photos you see everywhere on social media, but rather works that really grabbed your attention. It was an exhibition that challenged my values, as I had assumed that you couldn't take wonderful photos without an expensive camera.
Furthermore, the colors and compositions were interesting, and I remember being greatly shocked by how much a person's heart can be moved by how the photographer sees and captures the world...!
Since I had little knowledge about Ghana (Gyasi's home country), the colorful nature and architecture of Ghana were also very fresh and new discoveries for me.
By the way, don't you think this kind of experience is very similar to "travel," where you experience different cultures and climates in an unfamiliar land and interact with the people living there?
Even if it's not a direct interaction, you leave your daily life and meet someone you don't know (the work) through an exhibition.
You go out on a whim out of curiosity, and find something unexpected.
You feel excited or shocked there, and return to your daily life with those memories in your heart.
I think one of the real thrills of KYOTOGRAPHIE is that you can experience the same kind of fun as traveling.
Also, the other day, when I was talking to Philippe, who is in charge of the Jaysing Nageswaran exhibition at KYOTOGRAPHIE 2024, it was impressive that he said,
I want you to come with the feeling of meeting him (Jaysing)
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Even if you don't have a clear purpose like "I'm definitely going to see XX!", if you visit an exhibition with a light heart thinking "I'm kind of curious about it," you might make interesting discoveries or experience a shock through the artist's exhibited works!
Is a photo festival an experience in itself?
In the modern age, we can easily view photos and videos on our smartphones whenever we like.
While that is certainly convenient, seeing a photo printed on a large board might give you a completely different impression than when you view it on a small smartphone device.
I cannot speak to the details of this year's exhibitions—that will be a surprise for when you visit the venues—but...
The program manager for Kikuji Kawada's exhibition production said,
When I saw the prints scheduled for the exhibition during a meeting, I felt that it had been a long time since I saw prints so beautiful they gave me goosebumps. This is something completely different from what you see on the internet or a monitor, and if there is a chance to see something this wonderful, everyone would be missing out if they didn't!
and they emphasized it so strongly that I am very much looking forward to it too!
Furthermore, the joy of KYOTOGRAPHIE is not limited to the act of viewing exhibited photos.
Mr. Nakazawa, who is in charge of the overall coordination of KG+, described how to enjoy KG+ as getting lost.
Please be sure to check out the interview article below as well.
I was present at this interview, and my travel-loving antenna instinctively reacted, thinking,
“Wait??? Isn't that the very essence of the joy of travel...?”
Haha.
KYOTOGRAPHIE venues are scattered throughout Kyoto city, and the surrounding areas are lined with restaurants and other shops, as well as historical buildings designated as cultural properties.
On the way from one venue to another, you might unexpectedly encounter a delicious restaurant while getting lost, or you might make fun memories by becoming friends with the staff.
I believe the real thrill of KYOTOGRAPHIE lies in its potential for unexpected encounters and memory-making, not just the exhibitions. While it is nice to enjoy your own time looking at photo works in the comfort of your home, why not enjoy the atmosphere of the photo festival with all five senses while feeling the warm, pleasant spring weather of April and May?
Summary
Based on my own experiences and the voices of other staff members, I have thought about the joys of KYOTOGRAPHIE by linking them to travel.
“Leaving your daily life behind to experience an unfamiliar culture. And feeling your heart race, allowing you to discover a new side of yourself.” In this respect, I think KYOTOGRAPHIE and travel are very similar.
I would like not only those who love photography but also those who love travel to visit KYOTOGRAPHIE. Through the works of each artist and by touring the venues throughout Kyoto, unexpected and interesting discoveries might be waiting for you.
Please go on a journey with KYOTOGRAPHIE!📸
★KYOTOGRAPHIE Exhibition Details
→ https://www.kyotographie.jp
★KG+ Exhibition Details
→https://kgplus.kyotographie.jp/
★Please also follow the Community Department's Instagram!
→https://www.instagram.com/kyotographers/