Haïkus d'argent, Michael Kenna's exhibition free of charge on certain evenings at the Musée Guimet

In the heart of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, the Musée national des arts asiatiques, Musée Guimet pays tribute to the work of photographer Michael Kenna, whose minimalist images of Asia are like visual haikus. From his first steps in Japan to the vast landscapes of China, Korea, Thailand and Burma, the artist takes us on a poetic journey across the Asian continent, guided by slowness, patience and an aesthetic akin to Japanese ink painting.

Exceptionally, the Haïkus d'argent exhibition can be visited free of charge in the evening. From 7 p.m. on September 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27, the exhibition will be open by night and freely accessible to visitors, on the occasion of the Musée Guimet rooftop evenings.

Having already devoted an exhibition to Marc Riboud and his vision of Vietnam, the Musée Guimet is now offering a sensitive dialogue between Michael Kenna 's photographs and works from its collections. Each section opens with a tête-à-tête between one of Kenna's photographs and an ancient Asian object: a Ming painting, the bronze hand of a Burmese Buddha, or a Japanese lacquer writing case. An extremely subtle resonance that sheds light on the photographer's view of Asia.

In Haïkus d'argent, we discover a photographic practice that focuses on slow gesture, rigorous framing and the power of emptiness. Kenna, whose work has often been compared to visual meditation, captures mist, wind, light and shadow in a quest for formal purity. In black and white, his landscapes become timeless tableaux, often shot in long poses, as if to suspend time. We see Chinese mountains, Burmese pagodas, Japanese temples or Vietnamese shores as if these places were speaking directly to us.

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The exhibition is also an invitation to slow down, to immerse oneself in a culture of detail and silence. Like an intimate travel diary, each photograph becomes a meditation. Huangshan Mountains, Study 42 and Pagodas of Shwe In Dein, two of the exhibition's key images, come to mind. What Michael Kenna reveals is not so much the landscape as the feeling it evokes.

In parallel with the exhibition, 34 photographs are on display at Montparnasse-Bienvenüe station, from July 3 to September 1, 2025, in partnership with RATP. An original way to discover Kenna's world in the flow of everyday life. While you're there, take advantage of the opportunity to explore the terraces, and in particular the Han rooftop, which is going into Korean mode.

Han Rooftop at the Musée Guimet: the Korean terrace with an Eiffel Tower view for summer 2025 - photos
Han Rooftop at the Musée Guimet awaits you for the 2025 summer season. Nestled atop the Asian Art Museum in the 16th arrondissement, this ephemeral Korean terrace welcomes you all summer long with a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower, Korean specialties, and cultural programming under the Parisian sky. [Read more]