Kyoto Kahitsukan
While visiting Kyoto recently, Magda and I stopped in at a retrospective of the work of French photographer Robert Doisneau at the Kahitsukan museum.
This beautifully curated show brings viewers back in time to witness Doisneau's Paris from the 1930's to the 1960's, presented in black and white prints from images captured on his Rolleiflex camera.
The work is organized into five sections - enfants, amoureux, bistrots, la rue, artistes - all of which Doisneau treats with respect and humor.
Although much of Doisneau's portfolio is popular - the most famous image being Le Baiser de l'Hôtel de Ville, 1950 (above) - many of the works were new to me.
Over the years, I've come to appreciate how well the Kahitsukan presents the work of well-known artists in a new light. Particularly photographers from the era before color.
Like previous shows we've seen there, this exhibition was produced with respect and care. The selection of prints and their presentation in the galleries. The design of the show's posters and tickets. And of course, the exhibition catalog.
The catalog was published by the museum's in-house press, in a format consistent with previous shows we've seen there. We now have a small pile of Kahitsukan show catalogs on our bookshelf including Pentti Sammallahti, Martine Franck and Elliott Erwitt.
The Kahitsukan is a special place. A small museum in Gion, it bills itself as the Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art, housing an exhibition space that spans several floors. Special exhibitions are held there in spring and autumn every year.
They also have a permanent collection of contemporary paintings, craft works and photographs from the museum's three major Japanese artists - Kagaku Murakami, Kaoru Yamaguchi and Rosanjin Kitaoji - that can be found interspersed and in the background on every floor.
One of our favorite permanent features is the light garden on the fifth floor, which functions a little like a Turrell room with a one-tree forest inside. It is definitely worth a look if you make it to the museum.
