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May 12, 2021

Exhibition of Daisaku Ikeda’s Photography Shown in Penza, Russia

Exhibition of Daisaku Ikeda’s Photography at the Lermontov Penza Regional Library
The Lermontov Penza Regional Library in Penza, Russia, the venue of the “Dialogue with Nature” exhibition

On May 12, 2021, “Dialogue with Nature,” an exhibition of nature and scenic photographs taken by Daisaku Ikeda in Japan and on his travels abroad, opened at the Lermontov Penza Regional Library, named for Russian romanticist writer, poet and artist Mikhail Lermontov, who spent half his life in Penza. Students and faculty of Penza State Technological University, together with many local residents, viewed the exhibition on opening day.

An online inaugural event was held on May 14. Saying the exhibition was a special opportunity to savor the beauty of nature as well as of the heart, Library Director Marina Osipova expressed hope that the exhibition tour would help further Russo-Japanese friendship. Academic Secretary Dmitry Murashov commented that the photos and accompanying poetic verses reflect the feeling of warmth and respect Mr. Ikeda has toward all life and impart a sense of assurance and tranquility.

Visitors viewing photographs at the “Dialogue with Nature” exhibition in Penza
Visitors viewing photographs at the “Dialogue with Nature” exhibition in Penza

Lying southeast of Moscow, Penza is located in a region known for its natural scenic beauty and bountiful cultural assets. In a message for the exhibition, Mr. Ikeda remarked that Penza pulsates with a lifeforce that flows through humans and nature alike, reflected in the spiritual legacy of literary giants like Lermontov, Pushkin and Tolstoy, who share a connection to the region. Mr. Ikeda hoped the exhibition would provide an opportunity for dialogue and reflection that sparks happiness and peace among people.

Prior to Penza, the exhibition was also shown in Rostov, Tula and Ryazan, and it is scheduled to tour other Russian cities during the next several months.

Mr. Ikeda’s photos, together with his poetry, will be on display at the library foyer through May 31.

 [Adapted from local reports and an article in the May 24, 2021, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan; photos courtesy of Lermontov Penza Regional Library.]

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