One of the greats of 20th-century fashion photography, the late Guy Bourdin often worked for major magazines like Vogue France and top brands like CHANEL. Known for his experimental works influenced by Man Ray and other surrealists, he continues to inspire artists 30 years after his death.
In this exhibition, The Absurd and The Sublime, we focus on his genius at the playful surprise and precise composition that elevated his fashion photos into works of art. Many of the works on display in KYOTOGRAPHIE were shown in September 2021, at CHANEL NEXUS HALL (Ginza, Tokyo). The Kyoto exhibition has a newly designed exhibition space, works featuring model Sayoko Yamaguchi, rare Polaroid photos revealing Bourdin's creative processes, archival magazine material, and documentary video visuals.
The Museum of Kyoto Annex
10:00 - 19:00
Admission accepted 30 mins before the venue closes.
Adult: ¥1,200
Students: ¥1,000 (Please present your student ID)
Closed: 4/11, 4/18
The Museum of Kyoto Annex
Sanjo-Takakura, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto
Subway Karasuma Line or Tozai Line “Karasuma Oike” station. 3 min on foot from Exit 5
Guy Bourdin (1928–1991), grew up in Paris and was inspired by its art scene. Although he started off as a painter, he began to experiment with photography having been influenced by The Surrealists such as Man Ray. His distinctive style of visual storytelling caught the attention of the fashion industry and his first fashion photographs appeared in the February 1955 issue of Vogue Paris. In addition to fashion magazines, he also created ad campaigns for CHANEL and other brands. His work has been exhibited in venues such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Tate Modern, Jeu de Paume and the Getty Museum. In 2006, Japan’s first ever Bourdin exhibition was held at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum.
Other Exhibitions
Other Exhibitions
Momo Okabe
ILMATAR
HOSOO GALLERY
10/10 Celebrating Contemporary Japanese Women Photographers
