Ten Thousand Things
Multicultural Webfinds

"Ten Thousand Things" is a Buddhist expression representing the dynamic interconnection and simultaneous unity and diversity of everything in the universe.

"PeaceWorks: Linking Souls" Photography Exhibition Aug. 24-31 in Yokohama

“What does peace look like?”

Thirty-eight photographers from 11 countries hope to answer this question with their
exhibition “PeaceWorks” from August 24th through 31st at Yokohama ZAIM (2F,
3F, and 4F, 12:00~19:00).

The PeaceWorks exhibition is divided into two themes.

Images by a Kanto-based group come under “My Inner Peace” and address the
problem of finding personal peace.

Images by the Kansai International Photographers Association (KIPA) are a
considered response to mainstream media “war photography” and seek to go
beyond simple stereotypes in “Visualizing the Ideal.” This Kansai group has
held several PeaceWorks exhibitions in Kyoto, including shows at Kyoto
Sangyo University and Kyoto University of Foreign Studies.

At the August exhibition in Yokohama, workshops for children and young
people will be held every day from 13:00~

The opening party will be held Sunday, August 24th, 16:00~18:00.

A panel discussion with participating artists is set for Saturday, August
30th, 16:30~18:00.

Artists will be in attendance all week long.
For more information see: www.peace-works.net
Contact Masumi Ishihara at 03-3415-6570

Mikhael by Paul Crouse

PeaceWorks Kansai

Some photos stop wars. In the Vietnam War, photographers took iconic pictures that helped people to understand the nature of the war. But "war photography" will never end war by itself. Through a never-ending, increasingly grotesque parade of images, war photography seeks to make people aware of the true horror of war, and shock them from their complacency. However, as Susan Sontag says in her book Regarding the Pain of Others, instead of prompting action, war photography often incites passivity - the problems are too big, too inflexible for any action by individuals to be effective. War photography objectifies and stereotypes those in conflict – they are either victims or perpetrators, Africans are poor, Muslims are violent. And shock wears off - we become immune, desensitised to its effects.

In this exhibition we try to create an alternative concept - "peace photography." Peace photography tries to capture the subjective experiences of people in conflict and peace. It moves away from the binary ‘us and them’ construction of war to an awareness of conflict from multiple-perspectives. In peace photography, we direct our attention towards the problems that lead to war. We seek to define peace through positive, not negative means. Our subjects are not victims, but collaborators. We try to develop tolerance and understanding, and challenge the stereotypes of gender and race. We work against political and religious oppression.

Peace photography helps us to revisit the way we see the world, providing food for thought and a ground for communal experience. It shows how experience-based art opens new forms for relationships and participation in the public that are key ingredients for a world of more understanding and integration. With cameras, compassion and humour, we are working toward a culture of peace.

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