Now in its 14th year, KYOTOGRAPHIE: Kyoto International Photography Festival returns in 2026. As part of its satellite program, KG+, Feel Records Kyoto Hanare Gallery “Nikai” will host a photography exhibition starting April 15 (Wed), 2026.
About KG+
Launched in 2013, KYOTOGRAPHIE is an immersive, city-wide photography festival that invites visitors to explore exhibitions across Kyoto. Venues range from historic temples and traditional machiya townhouses to modern galleries, creating a unique experience of discovering art while walking through the city.
KG+ is an open-call satellite festival of KYOTOGRAPHIE, dedicated to supporting emerging talent. Its mission is to introduce new voices from Kyoto to the global stage through exhibitions by promising photographers and curators.
At Feel Records Kyoto Hanare Gallery “Nikai,” we are pleased to present exhibitions by two photographers.
Shin Sugino Photography Exhibition – Hands “Pins and Needles”
From April 15th (Wed) to May 3rd (Sun), 2026, we will host the “KG＋ PICK UP Program No. 14: Shin Sugino Photo Exhibition: Hands ‘pins and needles’.” This exhibition has been selected for the “PICK UP” category, recognizing it as a program of particular note.
Exhibition Statement
The “hand” has carried a wide range of meanings across cultures and eras, shaped by spirituality, context, and tradition. Though it is part of the body, the hand is far more than a mere physical organ. In Éloge de la main (In Praise of Hands), art historian Henri Focillon described it as “the agent of creation that mediates between the mind and the world.” Thought and emotion come into contact with the world—and take form—through the hand. In this sense, the hand is where the inner life becomes visible.
In both Noh and Kabuki theater, the gestures of the hands are emphasized because they are seen as the boundary where the heart meets the world. In Noh in particular, where the face is concealed by a mask and movement is highly restrained, the angle and height of the hands play a crucial role in expressing emotion. A hand gently placed at the chest suggests sorrow or introspection; a hand softly raising a fan evokes prayer or remembrance; a sleeve drawn to the face conveys tears or grief. Within these subtle gestures, an entire emotional landscape is revealed.
This body of work brings together images of “hands” selected from various series the artist has photographed over more than 50 years across the world. The title “pins and needles” refers to a tingling sensation—one in which perception becomes heightened, yet also carries a sense of uncertainty.
Hands can touch, confirm, and create, but they are also extended toward others. A handshake signifies a promise; an open palm offers compassion; fingertips placed together communicate empathy without words. When hands are quietly joined, they become a gesture of prayer. At times, hands may connect us to others and to the world more deeply than language itself.
Nao Noguchi (Gallery Tosei)
Shi Sugino — Profile
Born in Osaka, Shin Sugino moved to Canada at the age of 19. He studied photography and film at Ryerson University in Toronto, and later taught at the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University while beginning his career as a photographic artist.
From 1980 to 1986, he expanded his work internationally, serving as a still photographer for feature films in Canada, the United States, Spain, and Austria. In 1986, he founded Sugino Studio, an advertising photography studio. In 1995, he established Canada’s first fully digital production system, becoming a leading figure in commercial visual production. He has since continued working not only in photography, but also as a commercial director and director of photography.
Sugino has received numerous international awards. He won the Golden Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 1988 and 2002, and again in 2006 in the Cyber category. His work has also been recognized with honors including Clio Awards Gold, The One Show, The Advertising & Design Club of Canada, Applied Arts Magazine, Photo District News, Communication Arts Magazine, and Lürzer’s Archive.
Alongside his commercial work, Sugino has consistently pursued his practice as a fine art photographer. Working primarily with traditional processes such as wet plate, platinum print, and photopolymer gravure, he has presented his work in numerous exhibitions. His artworks are held in major collections including the National Gallery of Canada, the Ontario Arts Council Collection, the Banff School of Fine Arts Collection, as well as many private collections.
KG+ PICK UP Program No. 14 Shin Sugino — Hands “Pins and Needles”
Dates: April 15 (Wed) – May 3 (Sun), 2026
Hours: 10:00–18:00
*Opening day: 12:00 start / Final day: closes at 16:00
*Closed: April 20–22, April 27–28
KG+ Official Page
Satoko Nishioka Photography Exhibition – Voice of Water
As part of KG+ Program No. 173, Voice of Water will be on view: May 4 (Mon) – May 17 (Sun), 2026
Exhibition Statement
Water is a quiet force that sustains the cycles of this world.
Constantly changing form, it never ceases to move.
As it travels through clouds, rain, rivers, and oceans, water connects distant places and moments in time.
Within this endless motion, water carries traces of memory—imprints of landscape, climate, and the passage of time.
What may appear as fleeting phenomena—ripples, reflections, or wind moving across the surface—are, in fact, part of a much deeper and longer cycle.
In Panama, the presence of water is especially vivid.
The persistent rain, tropical humidity, flowing rivers, and the surrounding seas and isthmus shape the rhythm of the land, as well as the history and daily lives of the people who live there.
These works are an attempt to listen to the quiet voice of water—to attune oneself to its memory.
That voice emerges through movement, light, and reflection. By observing the flow of water, this work seeks to understand it as a presence that remembers, transforms, and connects all things.
Satoko Nishioka
Satoko Nishioka — Profile
Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Satoko Nishioka began creating visual works centered on photography in 2012. Her practice explores themes of time, memory, and environmental change, focusing on the sensory boundaries that emerge between landscape and material.
Since 2020, she has also been producing handmade photobooks, expanding her work into the relationship between materiality and tactile experience.
KG+ Program No. 173 Satoko Nishioka – Voice of Water
Dates: May 4 (Mon, Holiday) – May 17 (Sun), 2026
Hours: 10:00–18:00
*Final day: closes at 16:00
*Closed: May 6–8, May 11–12
*Artist in attendance: May 4 (all day), May 5 (until event end), May 9 (from around 12:00), May 10 (all day), May 13–17 (all day)
KG+ Official Page
Gallery “Nikai” — Where Records and Art Resonate
Located within Feel Records Kyoto Hanare, a beautifully preserved traditional machiya over 100 years old, Gallery “Nikai” is a quiet, intimate space tucked away upstairs at the top of a steep, hidden staircase. With records gently playing in the background, it offers a place to slow down and engage deeply with the work.
Whether you’re strolling through Kyoto in spring or exploring the photography festival, we invite you to stop by. In this space where music and art resonate together, discover a moment of connection—an encounter to remember.