Seika University Show at the Kyoto Metro Art Museum

I went to the Kyoto Metropolitan Museum of Art today to see the Seika University Graduation Works Show. As usual, I was impressed by the incredibly high level of the work from these young artists. Coming hard on the heels of the excellent Nitten (All Japan) show at the same museum, I thought how lucky I was to live in a city where exhibitions like this are a regular occurrence.

Here's the museum:


Here's a nice silkscreen:


Here's an interesting multimedia piece:


Here's an oil painting that reminded me of Bosch. This one made me think of Central Services in the movie "Brazil." Of course, in that move, there was no "ghost in the machine."


Here's a great abstract oil:


Here's an interesting ceremic work that looks like a ritual object from a Himalayan kingdom that never existed:

Ghost Houses in Kyoto

My friend Markuz Wernli Saito is holding a unique art project in Kyoto in March. He's been taking pictures of "ghost houses" in Kyoto for a long time. Ghost houses are the remains of houses left behind when houses are torn down here in Kyoto. Houses are built so closely together that one house is often built to accommodate its neighbor. When one is torn down, you get these interesting "shadows" left behind by the vanished house. Markuz is going to create a real estate agency where you can "shop" for these ghosts houses. For more on Markuz's project, please visit his site. To nominate a ghost house for inclusion in Markuz's project, contact Markuz directly.

Ebisu-san

This evening, I went to Gion to visit Ebisu-jinja to wish for a good year. The god Ebisu in enshrined here. Ebisu-san (or Ebesu-san in Kyoto dialect) is the god of financial success. Kyotoites who are involved in business visit the shrine at the beginning of each year to pray for a good business year.

On the way to the shrine, I saw a tourist dressed as a maiko (apprentice geisha) on Shimbashi-dori. Even though she wasn't a real maiko, she made a good picture:


Here is a picture of the shrine:


Here is a picture of one of the shrine maidens dancing with a bit of sasa (small bamboo) to consecrate it.


The god Ebisu-san is said to be hard of hearing, which is probably all for the best considering how many people are begging him to make them rich. In order to get his attention, people bang on the side of the shrine, like this woman is doing:

Saimyo-ji Temple

Today, my friend Paul and I took a walk from Takao to Hozukyo, in the western mountains of Kyoto. Along the way, we stopped in Saimyo-ji temple, which is one of my favorite temples in the Kyoto area. I sometimes bring my clients there when we do the Takao to Hozukyo hike.

Here is a picture taken in front of the main hall:


Here is a picture taken from inside the main hall:


Here is a picture of the waterfall near Saimyo-ji:

From Kibune to Kurama

The other day, I went to Kibune and Kurama (north of Kyoto) with an old friend from Australia and his family. We had lunch at a ryokan in Kibune, and then walked over Mount Kurama and down into the village of Kurama. This is one of my favorite day trips out of Kyoto.

Here's a picture of us dining at the ryokan:


Here's a picture of the main hall at Kurama-dera Temple, which is up on Mount Kurama:


Here are the steps leading down from Kurama-dera: