The Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts has launched a major photography exhibition titled 'Silver Haikus: Asia Photographed by Michael Kenna,' showcasing four decades of the renowned photographer's work capturing Asian landscapes. The exhibition represents a significant addition to the museum's rich photography programming and highlights the prominent place Asia has held in Kenna's artistic vision throughout his distinguished career.
Museum President Yannick Lintz emphasized the exhibition's importance in a statement, describing it as 'a major event in the rich programming of the Guimet Museum dedicated to photography.' She noted that the exhibition follows in the tradition of several landmark shows, including the impressive monograph 'Marc Riboud: Possible Stories' in 2021 and 'Ephemeral Portrait of Japan: Photographs by Pierre-Élie de Pibrac' in 2023. Lintz praised Kenna's work for revealing 'the singularity, sensitivity, and finesse of his perspective on the landscapes of this magnificent continent.'
The exhibition gains additional significance from an extraordinary act of generosity by the British-American photographer, who lives in the United States. On November 10, 2022, Michael Kenna donated his entire photographic body of work to France, demonstrating what Lintz called 'his remarkable affection for our country, which he has so often traversed and photographed, and his confidence in our heritage institutions.' This unprecedented gift has already seen 4,000 original prints join the collections held by the Heritage and Photography Media Library.
The donation's scope extends far beyond the initial contribution, with plans for more than 180,000 negatives accompanied by their contact sheets, nearly 8,000 working prints, and all archives related to Michael Kenna's artistic activity over half a century to eventually enrich the national collections. This comprehensive archive represents one of the most significant photographic donations in recent French cultural history, reflecting the photographer's deep connection to France and trust in the country's cultural institutions.
Lintz highlighted photography's growing role in France's cultural landscape, noting that the Guimet Museum makes a valuable contribution through its publications, exhibitions, and acquisitions. The museum's photographic collections, established since Émile Guimet founded the institution in 1879, continue to expand and now include nearly 600,000 photographs taken in Asia from the introduction of photographic technology in the mid-19th century to contemporary production.
The newly established Villa Guimet, an international research center for Asian arts created by the museum at the end of 2024, is positioned to continue and develop the important work of cataloging, preservation, restoration, and promotion of this exceptional heritage. This new facility underscores the museum's commitment to preserving and studying photographic documentation of Asian cultures and artistic traditions.
As France approaches the bicentennial of photography, which will be officially celebrated from September 2026 to September 2027, Lintz expressed her happiness 'to be able to pay tribute to both the immense talent of Michael Kenna and this fascinating continent that is Asia.' The timing of the exhibition positions it as part of the broader national celebration of photography's historic milestone.
The exhibition 'Silver Haikus: Asia Photographed by Michael Kenna' will run until September 29, 2025, at the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts, located at 6 Place d'Iéna in Paris's 16th arrondissement. Visitors can find additional information about the exhibition and museum programs at www.guimet.fr.
