The Gleaners and I

An immersive performance and okazu by visual artist, Gaurav Ogale | Kyoto 2025

The Gleaners & I is an immersive, interactive, and intimate gathering by visual artist Gaurav Ogale, that celebrates shokunin kisetsu—the joy of finding solace in, or becoming one with, the process of creation.

Everything on the table—materials, vegetables, flowers, and threads—was gleaned from walks around Kyoto. The ubiquitous garbage net traps found outside Japanese homes doubled as our tablecloth, where we sewed together, deepening our connection through shared stories and conversations. The deformed vegetables were from roadside markets, often overlooked because they don’t make it to the perfectly packaged frozen aisles of supermarkets. The flowers, generously given by local florists, had surpassed their shelf life, with some even having been used at a wedding the day before. The sashiko spool was a gift from an antique textile seller at the local flea market, as a gesture for my passion for repair embroidery.

Photos: Nanase Tsuji