Kurashiki Photo Mural - A Large Photo in the Shopping District! A Casual Public Exhibition.

Is a photo exhibition something only for photography enthusiasts?
Not at all!

In the shopping district of Kurashiki, every autumn, a special exhibition is held where large prints of photographs are displayed on fabric, allowing passersby to casually view the photos.

This is the "Kurashiki Photo Mural."

The exhibition period for the shopping district in 2019 is from October 25 (Friday) to November 13 (Wednesday).

During the exhibition period, you can often see tourists and locals saying things like "It's beautiful" and "It's kind of interesting!" while enjoying the photos together.

Let me introduce the Kurashiki Photo Mural, which decorates the shopping district beautifully.

Kurashiki Photo Mural: An Exhibition that Brings Photography Closer

What is the Kurashiki Photo Mural?

The "Kurashiki Photo Mural" is a photo exhibition where photographs printed on large fabric are displayed in the shopping arcade of Kurashiki.

Works selected by the director from photographs submitted from across the country are displayed.

It started in 2004 and celebrated its 16th edition in 2019.

The director is photography critic Iizawa Kotaro.

He is one of Japan's leading photography critics, serving as a judge for many public photography exhibitions such as "Shashin Shinseiki" and "Shashin 1_WALL Exhibition," which are considered gateways for photographers.

The event is organized by the Kurashiki Photo Mural Executive Committee, Kurashiki City, Kurashiki Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kurashiki TMO, Okayama Prefectural University, and the Kurashiki City Cultural Promotion Foundation.

The "SAKURA Project," a volunteer group from the Faculty of Design at Okayama Prefectural University, is responsible for planning and management.

Kurashiki Photo Mural in 2019

In 2019, the following exhibitions will be held.
All are free of charge.

Additionally, the following workshops were held prior to the exhibition.

• PHOTO STADIUM
• Parent-Child Workshop

The shopping district exhibition has a theme set each year.

The theme for 2019 is "Gloss."
Previous themes have included "Flower," "Radiance," "Wind," "Color," and "New."

Photographs are submitted according to the theme, and a single director selects the works.

Thus, even though it is a collection of works from multiple people, the exhibition maintains a sense of unity.

In 2019, 57 works were selected from 254 applicants and 973 entries.

People of various ages submitted works, with the youngest being 5 years old and the oldest 86 years old.

The Charm of the Kurashiki Photo Mural

An Open Exhibition in the Shopping District

One of the charms of the Kurashiki Photo Mural is undoubtedly that "it is displayed in the shopping district, allowing many people to enjoy it casually."

Many art exhibitions, including photo exhibitions, are held in indoor spaces for reasons such as protecting the works.

However, exhibitions in closed spaces tend to be less accessible to those who are not specifically visiting to view the works.

The Kurashiki Photo Mural is an exhibition displayed in the shopping arcade.

People who come to see the photos, shoppers, tourists heading to the Bikan Historical Area, and passersby all get to see the works.

Since it is not in a formal setting, it feels very casual.

It is planned with the idea of "wanting many people to feel the charm of photography up close."

I also saw a child pointing at a humorous photo and saying, "Look, Mom! That's funny!"

The Impact of Large Fabric Prints

What size of photographs do you usually see?

The sizes of the exhibited works in the Kurashiki Photo Mural are large (2.9 meters × 3.7 meters) and small (1.9 meters × 2.0 meters).

While there are many opportunities to see photos on social media and websites, you rarely see photographs this large, right?

When you actually see the large fabric, it is impressive.

Highlighting the Charm of the Shopping District

The arcade shopping district that leads from Kurashiki Station to the Bikan Historical Area.

When I first saw the Kurashiki Photo Mural, the photos that appeared one after another felt like they were saying "Welcome," and I was moved by how enjoyable it is to walk through the shopping district.

The related projects introduced later are also designed to enhance the enjoyment of the shopping district.

Let's Walk Through the Shopping District

Let me introduce some of the works from the shopping district exhibition.

The first work you encounter when entering from the center street entrance near Chugoku Bank is a piece depicting a lemon being thrown into the blue sky.

It's very refreshing.
It seems that the photographer made many attempts to capture the perfect shot.

A work taken from directly above a cat.

"Best angle, best shot," praised Iizawa-sensei as well.

A work by an OG of the "SAKURA Project," which organizes and manages the Kurashiki Photo Mural.

The unique cuteness of a newborn is irresistible.
A model baby also attended the social gathering venue.

This is a work by an 11-year-old, the youngest selected participant, featuring beautiful clouds.

The author's photo was also selected.

Rabbit bottoms are so cute, aren't they?

This is a work by Mr. Watanabe, who answered the interview.

The impressive shadows and color balance are stylish.

PHOTO STADIUM Grand Prize Works Exhibition

"PHOTO STADIUM" is a workshop aimed at high school students.

Over two days, participants created a series of photographs and single photos to submit to the "Kurashiki Photo Mural" shopping street exhibition under professional guidance.

From the works created, the Grand Prize and honorable mentions were selected, and the Grand Prize work will be exhibited on the 2nd floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki.

This year's Grand Prize winner is Anju Yunomae, a first-year student at Sakade Commercial High School.

It is a work that conveys a story of grasping hope from confusion and anxiety.

Our "Mongee~" Things

This is a project introducing "mongee~ mon" (meaning "amazing things" in Kurashiki dialect) from the shops in the shopping street.

Shop owners introduce their top recommendations.

You might discover the charm of new shops and have engaging conversations with the staff.

Review Meeting and Social Gathering

On November 3rd, a review meeting was held where director Kotaro Iizawa commented on the selected works, followed by a social gathering where participants could speak freely.

Anyone could participate for free, regardless of whether they submitted works or were selected.

It was a chance for participants to have their works seen by Mr. Iizawa and receive feedback.

For example, the following comments have been made so far.

• You should take more snapshots.
• The photos are good, but the way they are compiled looks disjointed, so it would be better to create a base flow and then add details.
• It's really good, so please show it to more people.

I spoke with Chizuru Watanabe from the SAKURA Project.

What were your thoughts while preparing for the Kurashiki Photo Mural?

Watanabe

We often discussed with the members how to make it more well-known and who the target audience should be.

While there are public exhibitions like "Shashin Shinseiki" that serve as a gateway for photographers, we want the Kurashiki Photo Mural to be more casual.

We want everyone to apply, so we hope to present it as a suggestion: "How about turning your photos into a large fabric?"

What is the appeal of the high school student workshop "PHOTO STADIUM"?

Watanabe

Having the opportunity to closely receive feedback from professionals over two days, from shooting to creating a series of photographs, is invaluable.

Additionally, it's a great opportunity for high school students who love photography to gather together.
The number of applications has been increasing year by year.

What kind of event is the parent-child workshop?

Watanabe

Participants are divided into parent and child teams and walk while taking photos.

Since cameras can be borrowed for a day, it can be a good opportunity for those who have never touched a camera to try it out.

It makes me happy to see communication between parents and children through photography, like "Look what I took."

Did you discover anything in "Our 'Mongee~' Things"?

Watanabe

There were shops I didn't know about, and for example, there was a shop that looked like an American goods store, but their top recommendation was delicious cake.

In 2019, handwritten messages from shop owners are included, so the atmosphere should be conveyed even more.
I hope it serves as good promotion for the shops.

How would you like people to view the Kurashiki Photo Mural?

Watanabe

You can think about the theme while viewing, or you don't have to think about anything at all.
You can find commonalities or discover your favorites.

I hope people enjoy the shopping street while enjoying the photos, along with related projects.

I hope everyone can enjoy the photos from various angles.

Please feel free to look while chatting!

I also spoke with an OG from the SAKURA Project.

How was your experience reflecting on the Kurashiki Photo Mural?

Hiramatsu

I was happy to see passersby laughing and enjoying it.

The activities of SAKURA were tough, but I gained a lot.
I'm glad I participated.

During the review meeting, producer Kitayama mentioned the following.

Kitayama

Culture is something that takes root.

The Kurashiki Photo Mural has reached its 16th year.
Since all the "PHOTO STADIUM" award winners were first-year students, it is deeply moving to think that it started when they were born.

We want to greatly enjoy photography with everyone at the Kurashiki Photo Mural.

Last year and this year, there have been significant damages due to flooding.
However, especially during tough times, we hope to create something bright in our hearts through the power of the culture of photography.

We would be grateful if you could submit fun and bright photos again next year.

Let's Find Your Favorite Works

Whether you love photography or just like it a little, anyone can casually enjoy viewing photos at the "Kurashiki Photo Mural."

Be sure to walk through the shopping district, look up at the photos, and find your favorites.

The theme for 2020 is "Dance."

There is a call for submissions around August each year, so why not give it a try?
In 2020, your photo might be turned into a large fabric display, brightening up the shopping district of Kurashiki!

Data on Kurashiki Photo Mural

Name	Kurashiki Photo Mural
Event Dates	Shopping District Exhibition & "Our Local 'Mongee~'": October 25 (Fri) - November 13 (Wed) PHOTO STADIUM Grand Prix Exhibition: November 2 (Sat) - November 11 (Mon) 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Location	In front of JR Kurashiki Station Arcade
Participation Fee (including tax)	Free
Website	Kurashiki Photo Mural

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