Shikoku, Japan’s smallest island, features a stunning coastline along the sparkling Seto Inland Sea. In this Collotype series, Michael Kenna invites you to experience the Shikoku Temple Pilgrimage through eight beautifully rendered collotype prints.

Following the release of Hokkaido in 2023, this marks Kenna's (b. 1953) second mini-portfolio with Benrido. It centers on the pilgrimage through the Shikoku region to visit the 88 sacred sites associated with Kobo-Daishi (Kukai). Walking the entire route is said to take over 40 days and cover approximately 1,400 kilometers. Since 2003, Kenna has visited many of these sacred places multiple times, capturing the essence of the pilgrimages, temples, rock gardens, offerings, lanterns, and stone carvings of Buddha, all through his poetic lens. This portfolio features eight works that evoke a distinct atmosphere, setting it apart from Hokkaido.

About Michael Kenna:
Born in 1953 in Lancashire, northwest England. After studying in London, he moved to the United States in the 1970’s and currently lives and works in Seattle. He has received worldwide acclaim for his works, which are rich in poetic sentiment, and which are based on his favorite subject, Japan. His work is held in over 70 museums around the world and has been published in numerous photo books.

About Benrido Collotype Atelier:
Benrido was established in 1887 as a small rental bookshop which evolved into a well established fine-art photography department, printing and publishing company. In the 1880s, the collotype printing process was introduced to Kyoto and by 1905 Benrido had begun producing collotypes. Collotype is one of the earliest forms of printing techniques and was invented in France in 1855 by Alphonse Poitevin as a method for photographic fine art printing. Due to the high level of print and archival quality, it has since been used primarily as a way to reproduce and preserve Japan’s National Treasures and cultural properties. Today Benrido Collotype Atelier remains as one of only a few studios left in the world capable of producing fine colour collotype prints.

關於 Michael Kenna：

於1953年出生於英格蘭西北部蘭開夏郡，Michael Kenna 畢業於倫敦後於 1970 年代移居美國，現居西雅圖，並以其黑白攝影作品聞名，日本風景是他最喜歡的拍攝主題。他的攝影作品已經出版了 60 多本書籍和著作，並曾於全球 70 多個博物館展出。

關於京都便利堂：
便利堂 成立於 1887 年，最初是一家小型出租書店，後來發展成為一家美術攝影部門、印刷和出版公司。1880 年代，珂羅版印刷工藝被引入京都，到 1905 年，便利堂 開始生產珂羅版印刷。珂羅版是最早期的攝影美術印刷技術形式之一，於 1855 年由 Alphonse Poitevin 在法國發明，其印刷和成品質量非常高，此後主要用作複製和保存日本國寶和文化財產的一種印刷方式。至今，京都便利堂 仍然是世界上為數不多能夠製作精美彩色珂羅版印刷品的工作室之一。