Ways of Seeing 6581

「見ることは、一種の選択行為だ」。ジョン・バージャーの「見るということ」は視覚とメディアの関係を論じました。この写真展はバージャーのその本の影響から生まれました。

シンガポールの建築と言えば、近代的な街と超高層建築を想像します。日本の建築と言えば、伝統的な神社や寺などが思い浮かびます。しかし、もしそこから視点を変えれば、様々な異なるイメージを思い描けるかもしれません。この度、8月8日から16日まで日本のモダンなビルやシンガポールの伝統的な建物といった、意外な街の風景の写真を夏屋「Nutshouse Kyoto」にて発表します。ギャラリーは京町屋にあり、静かなインテリアと特別な雰囲気に浸れます。

タイトル「6581」はシンガポール（+65）と日本（+81）の市外局番で、こうした対照的なニュアンスを暗示しています。写真家フランツ・ナバレテ (Franz Navarrete) が撮ったショップハウス「shophouse」は、シンガポールの伝統的な建物です。一方、写真家リム　ユ　ヘン (Lim Yu Heng) が関心があるのは日本のモダン建築です。その二人の写真を展示は、日本とシンガポールの有り触れたイメージを変える試みです。本展は キッサ・カステネダ (Kissa Castañeda) と ホン　シンイン (Hong Xinying)著『シンガポールのショップハウス：ファサードのその先へ』Shophouses of Singapore: Beyond the Facade 、(マン・モー・メディア /　Man Mo Media 刊 ）という本の新刊発表会と合わせて、開催します。

今展覧会をお楽しみいただき、京都だけでなく、次の旅先で出会う街並みに対しても、新たな視点と価値観を持っていただければ幸いです。

ホン　シンイン Hong Xinying (@xy_writes)、 リム　ユ　ヘン Lim Yu Heng (@mazterz)

“Seeing comes before words”, wrote John Berger in his seminal work, Ways of Seeing; the book that this exhibition takes its name after. In our visual-saturated culture, this statement feels more apparent than ever before.

The history of Japan spans 14,000 years, whereas a young nation like Singapore typifies the new with just over six decades of independence. But what if we flip the narrative on this preconceived notion of the two countries? Even Japan’s ancient capital is not immune to change, adapting to the evolution of urban living. As Singaporeans residing here, we appreciate and celebrate the unique mix of heritage and modernity that makes this city so liveable. The area code numbers in the title allude to these contrasting nuances, representing Singapore (+65) and Japan (+81).

Set within the context of a Kyomachiya in Kita ward, this exhibition at Nutshouse Kyoto invites visitors to view, discuss and compare the evolving urban landscapes of two strikingly different countries. We present contrasting scenes of modern architecture in Japan with photography of historic shophouses in Singapore. Like the kyomachiya, the Singapore shophouse similarly combines both a residence and a business, and features an elongated layout with a narrow frontage and a deep rear.

Pure geometry, clean lines and proportion are hallmarks of the work of architectural photographer Lim Yu Heng, presented here in selected photography featuring contemporary structures across Japan. These are juxtaposed against the scenes lensed by Franz Navarrete for the book, Shophouses of Singapore: Beyond the Facade, co-authored by Hong Xinying and Kissa Castañeda. The book chronicles the history and stories of 30 heritage buildings that are adorned with intricate Peranakan-style tiles and art deco details, featuring photography by Navarrete and other notable Singapore-based photographers.

This exhibition is held in conjunction with the summer 2026 launch of Shophouses of Singapore: Beyond the Facade, a coffee table book published by Man Mo Media. We hope you’ll enjoy the exhibition and walk away with a newfound appreciation for the streetscapes not just here in Kyoto, and wherever your next journey takes you to.