The Lyrical Vision and Narrative Space: Exhibition Report | 'Capture your Emotion' at Zenkyoan | Focus #3

On July 22 (Sat) and 23 (Sun), 2023, the award-winning works from the 'Capture your Emotion' photo contest were exhibited at Zenkyoan, a Zen temple in Kyoto Prefecture.

'Capture your Emotion' is a global online photo contest supported by Zenkyoan, open to any creator registered with cizucu. With the theme of 'Expression of Emotion,' the contest invited participants to confront their inner selves and express their feelings through photography. Out of all submissions, seven carefully selected award-winning works were displayed at Zenkyoan.

This was a special opportunity to meet cizucu creators and others whom we usually do not have the chance to encounter in person. Coinciding with the Gion Festival season, the exhibition also attracted the attention of international visitors.

One of the highlights of this exhibition was the unique charm of the venue itself. Zenkyoan is known as a sub-temple of Kenninji, one of Kyoto's most esteemed temples. The temple houses Marishiten-do, a tangible cultural property designated by Kyoto Prefecture, which is open to visitors year-round.

However, the karesansui (dry landscape) garden is usually not open to the public. The garden, with its exquisite combination of moss and white gravel, quietly preserves its beauty away from the public eye.

Usually, viewing printed photographs in a hidden space is a rare experience. The sound of cicadas and the passage of time heightened the sense of reality in the act of viewing the works. While the announcement of the award-winning works allows one to see the images, it does not necessarily mean that the message the artist wishes to convey is truly understood. This exhibition reaffirmed the significance of presenting works in a physical space and the emotional impact of experiencing the interplay between photography and environment.

Through the extraordinary experience of the exhibition, visitors were invited to imagine the stories and emotions hidden beyond the landscapes depicted in the photographs, contemplating the worlds that unfold beyond the frame. The question posed by the supporting head priest, Mr. Uematsu—'How can one take the first step as a creator, not just as a consumer?'—seemed to find an answer in this context.

Through this exhibition, the cizucu team once again recognized the value of offline exhibitions in addition to online showcases. We aspire to create authentic art experiences that deepen engagement through unique exhibition spaces and direct dialogue. While leveraging technology, we are committed to providing creators with opportunities for tangible, real-world presentations, and we look forward to your active submissions to future photo contests.

We extend our gratitude to Head Priest Uematsu of Zenkyoan, all creators who submitted to the photo contest, and everyone who visited the exhibition.