Setouchi International Art Festival 2010

           The seto inland sea of japan has been an important nexus of transportation. boats from the mainland have come and gone, bringing new cultures and lifestyles to the islands which dot the sea. 
            Since then, each island has formed its own culture. however, globalization and increased homogenization has caused the islands to slowly lose their characteristics due to the aging and decreasing population of the islands.

            Setouchi-Artfest aimed to bring vitality back to the islands of the area. 
The event featured the work of 75 artists, from 18 countries and regions who brought forth new discoveries in the workings of our daily life. The islands have become the stages, through which elements of life related to art, focusing on the islands' lifestyles and history, were exhibited. 

suh do ho-"net-work"

nakanishi nakai "a town between the sky and the sea"

 "a town between the sky and the sea" by nakanishi nakai (architect hiromu nakanishi and landscape designer takeo nakai) is a reproduction of the landscape of ogijima. built against a stonewalled lane overlooking the sea, meant to representa gorge, the duo has created a microcosm, one-eighth its actual size.

yoshiro kitayama

rikuji makabe

hiroshi sugimoto

takashi nishibori "uchiwa bone house"

 for 'uchiwa bone house', takashi nishibori focuses on the traditional kagawa handicraft of the uchiwa fan. utilizing the bamboo frames of numerous fans, he explores light and wind, inside and outside, island life and scenery, the relationship between tradition and the present.

takeshi kawashima& dream friends

      "memory drops" by takeshi kawashima & dream friends, are colorful, spherical works predominantly constructed from flyers, magazines, old newspapers and wrapping paper. some drops are made with the islanders out of their letters, diaries and other papers crammed with precious memories. installed within the entrance, corridors, walls and under the eaves of the exhibition space, visitors are invited to make their own memory drops, some of which will be added to the installation as the festival progresses.

takashi imura

kyoto taniyama "rainy lane"

     Kyoko Taniyama's 'rainy lane' consists of washbasins and buckets which have been hung, 
periodically releasing a shower of water, making it look like its raining, even on a sunny day. in the past, water was so scare on ogijima, that islanders had to haul it from a well at the top of the hill. 
taniyama's installation reminds us of the importance of water and its relation to island life.

yodagawa- technique

takahito kimura

 "sea gull's parking lot' responds to its site location which is fishing port. takahito kimura has placed a host of weathercocks here, so that when the wind blows in from the sea, they all turn simultaneously, giving the invisible wind a visible form. the work is mean to bring visitors' attention to the natural phenomena that surrounds the island.

noboru tsubaki

shiniji ohmaki

yoshihiro suda "gokaisho"

     The name of the site, 'gokaisho', is derived from the fact that local villagers used to gather here to play 'go', an ancient board game. the art space's interior is strewn with yoshihiro suda's camellia blossoms which have been carved from wood, paralleling the five-hued flowers of the camellia tree that is planed in the site's garden.