Visual Lyricism and Space Narrate: Photography Exhibition | 'Capture your Emotion' at Zenkyoan | Focus #3

On July 22 (Saturday) and 23 (Sunday), 2023, we held an exhibition of award-winning works from the photo contest 'Capture your Emotion' at Zenkyoan, a Zen temple in Kyoto.

'Capture your Emotion' is a global online photo contest open to any creator registered with cizucu, supported by Zenkyoan. The contest was held with the mission of facing one's inner self and expressing it through photography, with the keyword 'Expression of Emotions'. Seven selected award-winning works were exhibited at Zenkyoan.

Daihyo
'#Kibanakosmos'

cizucu Editorial Team
The orange flower, which might be called tangerine in Japanese. Whether it's orange or tangerine, the emotions the photographer imbued in this photo are intriguing.

Keizan Kato

cizucu Editorial Team
A withered lotus encapsulating silence and delicacy. A beautiful photo that resonates with the Japanese spirit of wabi-sabi, conveying the photographer's inner space.

sora.KagiAke
'Spreading in a Puddle'

cizucu Editorial Team
Puddles are usually avoided. The curiosity and pure sensibility of the photographer who stops and looks at the scenery reflected in a puddle are conveyed.

Kuni…
'Loneliness'

cizucu Editorial Team
A rabbit so quiet it's almost lonely, with no sign of people. Whether rabbits feel loneliness is unknown, but this photo certainly evokes that emotion in us.

Rasshii
'Water has various flows. It moves in different directions, gathers, and spreads.'

cizucu Editorial Team
Water flows smoothly. It continues to flow, and no two moments are the same. The photographer captured this moment among many flows, making it a captivating piece.

Kuni…
'Hidden Thoughts'

cizucu Editorial Team
Light penetrates the water, illuminating the floating particles and creatures within, creating a fantastical scene that feels like stepping into another world.

Sentimental_Jong
'Kangaku School'

cizucu Editorial Team
A man sitting in a space that conveys silence. Through his back, the photographer seems to project their ideal or spiritual world. The relationship with the subject is also considered in this piece.

Thank you for participating in the photo contest 'Capture your Emotion ~Emotions Reside in Dew~'. The theme this time was 'Expressing Emotions'.
Even those who regularly take photos might have struggled with how to express intangible emotions.

We tend to evaluate things based on values like 'good or bad', 'beautiful or ugly', 'like or dislike'. To express one's emotions, it's necessary to transcend such values, see things as they are, and express them. Truly encountering and expressing one's emotions results in works that, even after years of photography, overflow with fresh emotions as if it were the first time holding a camera.

At Zenkyoan, we plan to continue offering opportunities for such exhibitions. We hope to meet as many artists as possible who face expression head-on. For those who express, there is no end to looking within. We hope that those who viewed this contest will turn their camera lenses towards their emotions and participate next time.

It was a special opportunity to meet cizucu creators and others we don't usually meet. Coincidentally, it coincided with the Gion Festival season, attracting the attention of tourists from abroad.

One of the highlights of this exhibition was the venue's charm. Zenkyoan is known as a sub-temple of the prestigious Kenninji Temple in Kyoto. It houses the Marishiten Hall, a tangible cultural property designated by Kyoto Prefecture, which can be visited regularly.

However, the Karesansui garden is usually closed to the public. The garden, with its exquisite combination of moss and white sand, maintains its beauty in secrecy.

Usually, the experience of viewing printed photos in a hidden space. The sound of cicadas and the flow of time enhance the reality of the act of viewing photos.

While the announcement of the award winners allows us to see the works, it may not truly connect to understanding the message the works aim to convey. The meaning of exhibiting, and the emotional impact of the experience woven by photos and space, was once again realized.

Through the extraordinary experience of the exhibition, we ponder what lies beyond the landscapes in the photos, what stories are hidden, and reflect on the world beyond the photos. It felt like finding an answer to the question posed by Chief Priest Uematsu: 'How can we take the first step as an expressor, not a consumer?'

Through this exhibition, the cizucu team collectively re-recognized the value of offline exhibitions, not just online. We aim to create a real experience that deepens the art experience through unique exhibition spaces and dialogue with people. While utilizing technology, we want to create real output spaces for creators, and we look forward to your active participation in the photo contest.

We would like to thank Chief Priest Uematsu of Zenkyoan, the creators who submitted to the photo contest, and everyone who visited the exhibition.