Australian photographer Robert van Koesveld’s exhibition at the Empty Quarter Gallery at DIFC Gate Village draws on his five-years of photographing and interacting with Kyoto’s enigmatic geiko and maiko, who are often mistakenly referred to as ‘geisha’.
“Geiko is a word from Kyoto and its use is important to enough people of the kagai (geiko districts) to make us use this term as a matter of respect,” Koesveld tells GN Focus. Maiko are geiko in training, an apprenticeship that starts in their teenage years and continues for around five years.
“I hope the work underscores the deep artistry of geiko. The ‘gei’ in geiko means artist. The long and varied training leads to a kind of embodied grace and I hope this comes through in my work,” he says.
“We need to work hard to overcome distortion and defences when viewing another culture. It’s as much about giving up preconceptions as it is meeting the reality.”
When asked about some of the challenges of getting these photos, he says, “Building links, trust and credibility takes time. With respectful curiosity, some helpful contacts and possibly some luck I managed to get these photos. People of the kagai have reason to be cautious after some very poor behaviour by non-Japanese.”
“Equally I needed to do a lot of research and thinking through what I wanted to achieve from each arranged shoot.”
There are often events in Kyoto, where geiko or maiko are present. However, these are not widely publicised, says Koesveld. “A good guide or concierge may be able to help find these. The large stage performances, called odori, happen several times a year and are extraordinary and should not be missed.”
The exhibition runs until March 16 at the The Empty Quarter Gallery at DIFC. For those interested in this unique cultural experience, please contact the Kyoto Convention and Visitors Bureau Representative Office in Dubai at 04 375 3297
