YUGEN PICTURES is a creative outlet for British multidisciplinary artists John Allerston and Kia Fraser. Our work

blends film photography, cinematography, poetry, travel, fashion, philosophy, and more.

 

Born from an unyielding urge to express ourselves and fueled by our love for one another, we are driven by a shared belief: we were born to create.

 

The word Yūgen is an old Japanese concept with no direct English equivalent. It is composed of two characters: the first, “yu,” meaning dark or difficult to see; the second, “gen,” which originally referred to the tranquil colour of the universe and represents the profound or mysterious dimension of the concept.

 

The essence of Yūgen is not meant to be described or defined, but experienced. The late, great Alan Watts expressed the feeling through a series of poetic analogies: “a boat disappearing behind distant islands; wild geese seen and then lost in the clouds; the silver moon behind the pines.”

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From the beginning, our vision for Yugen Pictures has been to create imagery that encourages and inspires others to create, travel, and express themselves. And maybe, if we’re lucky, increase the chances of more people getting out there and experiencing Yūgen.