"Soul of Japan" in 130 photographs in the "Kapana" gallery
From August 16 to September 14, 2022
Kapana Gallery
Free entry

City Art Gallery-Plovdiv invites you to immerse yourself in the charm and harmony of Japan, revealed in the photography exhibition of Borislav Iliev. From August 16 to September 14 at Kapana Gallery, the author will present "Soul of Japan" in 130 color photographs printed on beautiful and exquisite hand-made Japanese paper, called washi. The process of creating the paper has been declared by UNESCO as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage. At the exhibition, visitors will be able to get acquainted with the way of creating washi paper.
The gallery will be decorated with beautiful colorful Japanese kites called koinobori, which are used to celebrate Children's Day in the eastern country.
Video materials from Ise Jingu will be screened.

The opening of the exhibition is on August 16 at 18:00. Entrance is free.

Ise Jingu is the most important temple complex in Japan, which consists of 125 shrines. It is located in Mie Prefecture. The tradition of the Japanese people states that every Japanese must visit the Ise Jingu temple at least once in their life. For millennia, 1,500 rituals have been performed there annually.
The history of the place is shrouded in the mists of time because the oldest Naiku shrine was built more than 2000 years ago. It was created as a temple to the sun goddess Amaterasu, the progenitor goddess of Japanese emperors who bestows fertility, but also has the role of guardian of the emperors of Japan.
One of the most interesting ceremonies in Ise Jingu is called Shikinen Sengu. According to this tradition, the main shrines are destroyed and then rebuilt, reflecting the Japanese understanding of creation and destruction that correspond to life and death. Even more, Sengu is a kind of visual lesson for generations about the transience of the material.
But people don't just go to Ise Jingu to pray. Various festivals have been held there for thousands of years. In the modern calendar, the first most important ceremony is the Kinensal festival, which is for a rich harvest. According to tradition, the imperial escort carried the ruler's gifts to the gods to Ise Jingu. Festive events dedicated to the New Year, the founding of Japan or the emperor's birthday are organized.

You can get more information about the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1402260220294289/