"Are you the one who created this piece?" Taking on a Photo Exhibition Became a Step Toward the Future [15-Year-Old's Challenge]
Introduction
In the spring of 2026, I became a high school student.
Currently, I am still continuing the game development and photography activities I started when I was in elementary school.
For a while after I started photography in my first year of junior high, I mostly took pictures of shrines and temples.
When I was in my third year, I started using a macro lens I received as a birthday present, and I became fascinated by the world visible through close-up shots; even now, I mainly focus on macro photography of plants.
And so, the feeling of "I want to display my work at a photo exhibition somewhere" began to sprout.
This time, I will write about what I felt after actually participating in a photo exhibition.
It was a much bigger experience than I expected, and I wanted to record my feelings.
The reason for exhibiting
The reason I exhibited in this photo exhibition was, because a photography teacher I met seven years ago told me about a photo exhibition being held in my hometown of Kyoto, so I thought,
"It's now or never!" and consulted with my family about applying.
As a result, I was able to apply with a series of works featuring dandelion fluff.
I am grateful to the teacher who told me about this exhibition and to my family who covered the exhibition fees.
About the exhibited work
The work I exhibited this time is a photograph of dandelion fluff that I took when I was 13.
At the time of shooting, I was using a Canon EOS Kiss M camera and took the photos at home using a shooting box.
I used tweezers to place the dandelion fluff into a small glass bottle one by one. I handled them carefully so as not to crush the fluffy hairs and photographed the entire bottle.
I combined this with a close-up photo of the fluff to create a diptych.
For the first piece, where I put the fluff in the glass bottle, I thought hard about ideas because of my desire to "express my individuality with a work different from others," and I came up with an idea that makes the most of the contrast between the fluffiness of the dandelion and the texture of the transparent glass bottle.
Facing my work at the KYOCERA Museum of Art
Then, on the first day of the exhibition, I went to the actual venue.
There were nearly 300 works at the venue, and I thought it would be hard to find mine, but
to my surprise, my work was displayed in a place visible right from the entrance!
I remember feeling very deeply moved when I saw my own work lined up among so many wonderful pieces.
And I thought my work looked much clearer and more detailed than it did on a screen.
Since there is an Instagram QR code next to the caption for the work, my follower count increased by about 10 people just on the first day.
"Are you the one who created this piece?"
Since many of the exhibitors at the venue were carrying cameras, I also brought my camera on the final day of the three-day event.
Then, an exhibitor approached me and asked, "Are you the one who created this piece?"
That person had loaded my Instagram page and even looked at posts from several years ago.
Then, they praised my work in great detail and with much care.
I was very happy to hear so many encouraging words.
Furthermore, they kindly recommended accounts of wonderful photographers on Instagram and suggested recommended photo exhibitions.
The words that made me happiest
That person praised many things carefully, but the words that made me happiest were "You can really be confident in yourself."
When I heard those words, I felt like my photography activities, which I had been continuing, were being recognized, and I was very happy.
Because it is macro photography of plants that not many people take, and it is what you might call "a work that doesn't appeal to everyone," I thought it would be difficult for people to appreciate its merits, so I was very grateful to receive such encouraging words.
Connections born at the photo exhibition
I was able to meet and connect with many people at this photo exhibition.
My Instagram follower count grew from 765 to 800 over the three days, and I was able to connect with various photography seniors through interactions between exhibitors.
I was very happy not only to see my own work displayed but also to meet so many different people.
Furthermore, teachers who took care of me when I was little even came to the venue from far away, such as from Mie Prefecture and Kobe.
The future of my photography activities
Usually, my photography activities consist mainly of posting to Instagram.
However, applying to public exhibitions periodically and having my work displayed in various venues like art museums and galleries is always a great stimulus and serves as motivation for creating new work.
As I continued my photography work like this, it was my dream to hold my own solo exhibition someday.
This year, in my ninth year, it has finally been decided that I will hold a solo exhibition! It is scheduled to be held in Kyoto City in January 2027, six months from now. As a milestone for my 10th year, I want to present a culmination of everything I have done so far!
I would like to write articles about the progress of my exhibition preparations from now on!
Summary
I have applied to various open call exhibitions every year, but since they were all in other prefectures, the time I could spend at the gallery was limited.
However, this time, I was able to visit the venue throughout all three days. Being able to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the venue together with wonderful fellow exhibitors was a precious experience.
As a result of participating for the first time, many interactions were born like this.
"A step toward the future"I am really glad I decided to participate, as I believe it will lead to that.
I will start creating new work again from today. I want to continue enjoying expressing myself!