KYOTOGRAPHIE 2025 to Launch in April with “Humanity” as the Central Theme

KYOTOGRAPHIE 2025 will be held from April 12 (Saturday) to May 11 (Sunday) at various locations throughout Kyoto.

Since its inception in 2013, KYOTOGRAPHIE has been an international photography festival showcasing works in historical buildings, modern architecture, galleries, and museums across Kyoto. The theme for 2025 is “HUMANITY,” with a focus on love, empathy, and the power to overcome crises. The festival will present photographs capturing the diversity and complexity of human life.

The main program will feature 13 artists from 10 countries. Notable participants include Pushpamala N, JR, Graciela Iturbide, Eric Poitevin, Martin Parr, Makoto Ishikawa, Adam Lahana, Tamaki Yoshida, Lee Schulman & Omar Victor Diop, Keijiro Kai, Eamon Doyle, Letícia Kii, and Xingyu Liu.

Pushpamala N, who will be exhibiting at the Kyoto Museum of Art’s Annex, is an artist based in Bangalore, India, known for her work across various fields. Initially a sculptor, she began creating thought-provoking photo performances and staged photos in the mid-1990s, assuming different roles to construct rich narratives. Described as “the most entertaining artist in contemporary Indian art” and a “maverick,” she integrates herself into the frame as the subject, positioning herself at the center of social issues. At KYOTOGRAPHIE 2025, she will showcase three major series, including The Arrival of Vasco da Gama, previously exhibited at the Tate Modern in London.

Martin Parr, a visual artist known for his work as a photographer, filmmaker, and collector, has been a member of the prestigious Magnum Photos collective since 1994. Renowned for his vivid colors and complex compositions, Parr has spent years exploring themes such as leisure, consumption, and communication, often with sharp irony. At KYOTOGRAPHIE 2025, he will present humorous works that explore mass tourism, including new pieces shot in Kyoto just before the festival.

Leticia Ki is an artist, activist, and entrepreneur whose work revolves around themes of self-love, cultural identity, and empowerment. Known for her innovative approach, she uses her platform to explore the beauty and cultural significance of black hair, promoting positive self-image while at times challenging social norms. Her hair sculptures, in particular, encourage individuals to embrace and affirm their own identity and circumstances. Ki is also active in the realms of fashion, film, and literature, and in her debut book LOVE AND JUSTICE, she explores her perspective as an activist advocating for equality in Côte d’Ivoire through words and images. At KYOTOGRAPHIE 2025, Ki will present new portrait work created during her stay in Kyoto as part of the KYOTOGRAPHIE African Artist-in-Residence program in the winter of 2024, embodying her own identity.

In addition, KYOTOGRAPHIE 2025 will feature a satellite event, KG+ 2025, aimed at discovering and supporting emerging photographers and curators. This open-call art festival will include various exhibitions of KG+ held across Kyoto, as well as two award categories: the KG+ SELECT Award and the KG+ DISCOVERY Award. Applications for participation are open until December 31, 2024. The event will also offer opportunities to engage with artists directly through artist talks, tours, workshops, screenings, and kids’ programs. During the same period, the sister event, the international music festival KYOTOPHONIE Borderless Music Festival, will also take place.