Thanks to Marguerite Paget for sending in details on the second movement of composer Yannick Paget's multi-media symphony, Consciousness. The second movement at Kyoto Art Center on June 24th, 25th, and 26th will explore quantum physics and string theory in a collaboration with physicist Koji Hashimoto and the ceramist Toru Kurokawa. Details below! Music meets Physics and … [Read more...]
The Art and Music of Philippe Kyoto de Bourgogne at Garden Lab, Kyoto; April 23 – 30
I was delighted to learn that my old friend, the artist and musician Phillipe Goulier (aka Philippe Kyoto de Bourgogne) will be exhibiting his art at the Garden Lab venue in Kyoto. Here are the details from Garden Lab: "Starting this weekend at Garden Lab we are featuring the art and music of Philippe Kyoto de Bourgogne. GALLERY SCHEDULE 04/23 - 04/30 LIVE MUSIC … [Read more...]
Heidi S. Durning’s Tapestry – A Dance & Music Project at Urbanguild, Kyoto; November 23rd – 25th
Heartfelt congratulations to our friend and local dance legend, Heidi Durning, for her upcoming 60th birthday celebrations! Join Heidi and her friends at Urbanguild for a three-day festival of music and dance at Urbanguild later this month! Tapestry - Dance & Music Project Celebrating Heidi S. Durning’s 60th Birthday in November a collaboration of traditional & … [Read more...]
Oyuna Walker Exhibition at Kyoto Daimaru; November 21st – 27th
Thanks to Aaron Walker for sending in the following information. Oyuna Walker will hold a solo exhibition of her oil paintings in DAIMARU department store, Kyoto. Exhibition title: “Blowin’ in the wind of the meadow” Dates: November 21st(Wed) through the the 27th(Tue), until 5pm on the final day. Place: Kyoto DAIMARU Department Store, 6F Art Salon, ESPACE … [Read more...]
A Traditional Live Music Show at Ran Theatre Kyoto
A couple of months ago Mewby and I were invited to attend a traditional live music show at "Ran Theater Kyoto". During the show we were entertained by a large number of talented and enthusiastic musicians playing a variety of traditional instruments from all over the Japanese archipelago. I found the show highly enjoyable, but the audience was a little sparse when we went and … [Read more...]
Maiko Dinner Show at Kyoto Restaurant Yasakadori Enraku
Many thanks to Anna Kase for sending in the following information. Much has been written about Kyoto's maiko, the famous apprentice geisha (properly called geiko in Kyoto) who entertain wealthy guests with traditional music, dance, songs, games and good conversation. In the past it was quite difficult for overseas visitors to gain access to the traditional tea houses … [Read more...]
A Close Encounter with Butoh Dance at the Kyoto Butoh-kan
Today we have a special guest post from Florentyna Leow on the world’s first theatre expressly devoted to regular Butoh performances. Butoh is an avant-garde dance style originating in Japan. First developed by Kazuo Ono and Hijikata Tatsumi in the 1960s, one of the central features of Butoh is its very indefinability - it is difficult to attach a definition or set of … [Read more...]
Vent & Eau – A Concert by Yannick Paget
Yannick Paget will conduct an original concert "Voice of 風水" for La Nuit Blanche at Kyoto Art Center on October 1st from 16.00 - 17.30. Here's Yannick with some background to the piece: “It was an exciting challenge to start the new KAC’s cycle “listening to the voice of Feng shui”, especially in a town like Kyoto that had a minister of Feng Sui for so many years and … [Read more...]
The 7th Kyoto Photo Walk with Javier Montano!
It's happening again! Wait - I think I recognize these two... Here's our friend Javier Montano with the details: The 7th Kyoto Photo Walk: - Meet new friends and learn about photography in beautiful Fushimi-inari Taisha. - All you need is a camera or a smartphone - Let's Take the biggest selfie in Kyoto! - Please register now, It is FREE! You have 2 … [Read more...]
Geiko & Maiko of Kyoto by Robert van Koesveld now on sale at Maruzen Bookstore
Last week I was very happy to catch up with photographer Robert van Koesveld while he was in town. Robert was kind enough to give me a copy of his new book, "Geiko & Maiko of Kyoto" which he self-published after an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign. If you are at all interested in the world of geiko and maiko then I would happily recommend this book. Robert's … [Read more...]
Utagawa Hiroshige’s Journey – 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō Exhibition at Museum “Eki” Kyoto
If you haven't see it yet, the exhibition of ukiyo-e woodblock prints by Utagawa Hiroshige now on at the Museum "Eki" Kyoto is really well worth a visit. During the Edo period, the Tōkaidō was a major land route between Edo (now Tokyo) and Kyoto. The name Tōkaidō means "East Sea Road" because the route mostly followed the coastline, and so there were many well known … [Read more...]
Pictures from Enso Watt & Instant Eternity!
Enso Watt performed Sanka's 5th Season Ritual at Urbanguild on Sunday night and as always it was a fantastic show. If you are not familiar with what they do, it is a choreographed multi-media extravaganza, of experimental music, pre-recorded soundscapes, live video, art, poetry, heaps of talent, color, and a whole lot of enthusiasm. All of it conducted by classical … [Read more...]
Manga in History Exhibition at Kyoto International Manga Museum
Yesterday, Mewby and I went to see the "Great Manga History Traces from Edo" exhibition at Kyoto International Manga Museum. This is a fascinating exhibition whether you are interested in the early development of manga, or of its role in social history. Manga has a long history as a satirical tool, used broadly to mock social and political trends. The museum displays a great … [Read more...]
Photo Tips & Tricks with Javier Montano: Tip #1 Learning to wait…
Here is some expert photography advice from our good friend, Javier Montano... As a photographer, the most common questions I get asked are technical in nature. Which camera brand is better? Should I get a mirror-less or a DSLR camera? Is a 85mm lens better than a 50mm lens? And so on. It is not that these questions are bad. They are not. It’s natural for beginners to ask … [Read more...]
