The annual KYOTOGRAPHIE International Photography Festival is held over the spanof four weeks each spring at traditional and contemporary locations all around Kyoto. Using the beautiful city as its backdrop, the festival seamlessly merges, art, culture, fashion, and design,introducing a new way to enjoy photography to both local and international audiences.

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, 2022's festival showcased artwork by one of fashion photography’s biggest names: Guy Bourdin. With his distinct style and creativity, this French photographer changed the very way that fashion and advertising campaigns were presented to the world stage. Bourdain started working with French Vogue during the 1950’s where he experimented with visual tricks, dramatic shots which looked like stills from movie scenes, and props such as disembodied legs and high-heeled shoes. He also worked closely with the shoe designer Charles Jourdan to create dramatic and iconic images year after year.

The merging of KYOTOGRAPHIE’s unique exhibition setting and Bourdin’s explosive work was too special not to document. Follow along as we take a glimpse into the exhibition, which contained photographs featuring Japanese model Sayoko Yamaguchi, documentary video visuals, and rare Polaroid shots illustrating the creative process that led to Bourdin’s name being so well remembered to this day.