This multimedia project by the rewarded Dutch visual artist and photographer Anaïs López follows the true fairy tale of her search for the golden turtle Kami, the goddess of the Kamo river. In 2016, Anaïs López travels to Japan. Pregnant and affected by the loss of her sister, López searches solace and reflection. She decides that Kyoto is the best place to be at that moment. During a walk along the river Kamogawa, she sees a golden turtle in the river. As soon as she hears the click of Anaïs' camera, the turtle disappears. When López returns to the Netherlands, she dreams about the golden turtle, which she calls kami (in Japanese: god). This encounter marks the beginning of a years-long quest. López travels back to Japan several times and meets special people, each of whom shows her a different path. What began as a chance encounter grows into a layered story about grief, control, nature, greed and daring to let go.
Using photography, film & special printing techniques López takes you on a unique visual journey. Screenings of the film ‘the Turtle and the Monk’, will be at 1 pm every day of the AAW. López will also do two storytelling performances with her artist book on 31/5 & 1/6 at 2 pm. An edition book of the project will be available for sale.
Anaïs López is a born storyteller who, with her photo and multimedia projects, takes the viewer into an often fabulous world that seems unbelievable, but turns out to be closer to the truth than you might think at first glance.
On 29.05, Anaïs López will be present for an artist talk at 15:00.