Matsuura Yukihito-Photographs dedicated to the ceremonies of periodic reconstruction (sengū) of two Shintō shrines

Du September 14 to December 12, 2021, discover the first display of the Cernuschi museum dedicated to contemporary photography, with a presentation of works signed by the Japanese artist Masuura yukihito in the painting room.

Recognized for his images of sculptures, Masuura yukihito (born 1963 in Tokyo) has been passionate about photography since the age of twelve. In 1981, he moved to France, where he became Guy Bourdin's assistant. In 1987, Masuura won a prize at the Salon d'Automne for his photographs of Aristide Maillol's works. His gaze is also drawn to the creations of Auguste Rodin and Antoine Bourdelle, as well as to the masterpieces of Michelangelo, the beauty of which he sees revealed by light.

From 2006, it was traditional Japanese culture that aroused his interest. Masuura has the privilege of attending sacred ceremonies of periodic reconstruction (sengu) of two Shintō shrines : I'Ise Jingu and l'Izumo Oyashiro. The displacement of the abode of the deities takes place every twenty years in Ise jingū and every sixty years in Izumo Ōyashiro. According to Japanese beliefs, the deities regain their power after moving into the newly built pavilion.

This selection of nine photographs belonging to the series Kami no miya testifies to different moments of the 62sengu of the Heisei era (1989-2019) such as ritual offerings to deities or transfer of objects of worship called treasures (shintai), and reveals the attention of their author for certain architectural details. These images are drawn on the famous hand-made paper (washi) in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, which is known in Japan to last over a thousand years.

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