What’s the hottest trend this 2018 Lunar New Year? Visit Anping Tree House to see Kotori Kawashima’s works!

A view of Tainan’s cultural landscape through the lens of Kotori Kawashima. (Provided by Tainan City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau)

Renowned Japanese photographer Kotori Kawashima, famous for capturing everyday warmth and the innocent faces of children, is set to take Tainan by storm in February. With his lens, he will present the Tainan landscapes he loves. From February 2nd, over the course of three months, the “Love’s Tainan” photography exhibition will be held at Anping Tree House, preserving fleeting yet eternal moments of the city.

Kotori Kawashima, a contemporary photographer who has won Japan’s equivalent of the Oscars in photography—the Kimura Ihei Award—openly expresses his love for Taiwan and even wishes to live here. In his eyes, Tainan is a city that seamlessly blends traditional culture with youthful creativity. This unique and free-spirited atmosphere deeply captivates him, and the content of this photography exhibition reflects his personal perspective on Tainan’s vibe and charm.

Tainan is the Taiwanese city, after Greater Taipei, that receives the most coverage in numerous Japanese travel books about Taiwan. The enthusiasm Japanese people have for Tainan is directly reflected in the vibrant city-to-city exchanges between the two. This world-renowned photographer is one of Tainan’s biggest fans.

Set against the fantastical ambiance and natural spaces of Anping Tree House, Kotori Kawashima’s photographic works will be displayed in an engaging and multi-perspective manner throughout the century-old, intertwined venue.

Kotori Kawashima spent a considerable amount of time in Taiwan, observing and documenting the daily life, ordinary people, animals, and street scenes of the island with his unique vision. Among them, Tainan holds a special place in his heart. He feels that the people here exude an ageless vitality in every move they make, continuously nurturing and accumulating energy. Those who gather here are also infused with Tainan’s energy and vigor, which then feeds back into the city, creating a positive cycle that gives the city its one-of-a-kind atmosphere—a charm that deeply fascinates him.

This exhibition is inspired by the theme of “playful interactive daily life,” reflecting the photographer’s deep affection for Tainan. The lens faithfully captures the sweetness, innocence, delicious food, and playful spirit of Tainan’s local culture. The exhibition incorporates Taiwanese park playground equipment, presenting the works in a fun and whimsical manner using high bars. The three thematic zones are “Smile,” “Play,” and “Interaction.” A total of 272 works will be displayed across the century-old warehouse complex at Anping Tree House.

The exhibition draws from Kotori Kawashima’s photography book “Love’s Tainan,” featuring even more of his photographs documenting Tainan. Due to its vivid imagery, the book has even been hailed in Japan as “the world’s most detailed travel guide to Tainan.” To promote the book, Eslite Bookstore will set up a pop-up store at Anping Tree House for the first time, making it convenient for visitors to purchase the book on-site. Exclusive limited-edition postcards will also be available for free at the venue. Limited quantities mean rare opportunities—don’t miss out, and come visit early.