Rediscover the history and culture of Fujisawa-juku on a wandering trip through art!
In the former Tokaido Fujisawa-shuku district, valuable buildings and landscapes that convey the history and culture of the region still remain. ``Fujisawa Modern and Past Machinaka Art Tour 2019'' was started with the aim of presenting the need for preservation and the possibility of reuse through ongoing art, and connecting it to the future.
This year, the 10th time the event will be held, 11 artists will gather in Fujisawa, including two invited from France. I am conducting residency productions in warehouses, townhouses, and gardens.
First up is the "Old Inamotoya Kimono Store." It was founded by a wealthy merchant in the late Edo period, but due to a fire in 1977 and deterioration, only two warehouses remain today. This time, the exhibition will be held at the storehouse, garden, and Emperor Meiji Memorial Monument.
In one of the warehouses, Kaoru Sasaki is working on his work.
“We are waiting for you with cats, birds, and rare insects in this space where you can breathe naturally.”
In the other storehouse, there is an exhibition by Naoaki Ito, who is also the representative of the executive committee. Please feel the ``fluctuation and shifting'' that Mr. Ito is experimenting with in this relaxing space with a verandah.
At the back of the garden, near the monument commemorating Emperor Meiji, Yohan Crepin, a native of the Provence region of southern France, is creating a piece of work. Before the invitation, Ioan sent images of several locations for consideration, and apparently chose this space himself.
He is known for his style of using natural materials, and this time he used bamboo, which grows naturally here, to create his work.
"Bamboo can be found in France, but I've never seen anything this thick and magnificent. This is my first time in Japan, so everything I see is new and impressive."
Yoan also told me the story of ``Kaguyahime''. Are the bamboo rings that extend from the bamboo stumps droplets from the sky or the trajectory of Princess Kaguya returning to the moon?
Mr. Polska, who came from France, created "Tenjinyama." He is an artist who works mainly in land art in Europe and Africa, making use of various plant fibers and stones.
In Japan, he has also done residencies in Kyoto, Mino, and Shiogama, and this is his second time participating in Machinaka Art, following 2012.
“Fujisawa is very interesting because tradition and new things coexist.I heard that there are graves here where Sengoku warlords and their descendants are buried, so I tried to incorporate the image of a samurai helmet into it.”
This is where I collect leaves, twigs, bamboo, etc. and create each piece with love.
"This work is a space for meditation. Please sit here and listen to the sounds of nature."
When I sat inside the work and looked up at the sky, I felt a slightly different natural breeze than usual.
This is "Sekitsugu Shoten Bread Kura Fudo/Ishigura."
The space is a renovated grain warehouse that was built in 1886 and is a registered tangible cultural property of the country, and is currently open as a bakery. You can enjoy freshly baked bread and coffee in the store, which has been modernized and has been renovated while retaining the earthen walls that are the remains of a warehouse.
We are exhibiting works by Shinji Murakami in ``Bread Kura Fudo'' and by ASADA in ``Ishigura''.
*The exhibition “Bread Storehouse Fudo” is open to the public only during business hours (8:00 to 15:00, excluding Mondays and Tuesdays).
We spoke with artist Naoaki Ito, representative of the Fujisawa Konjaku Machinaka Art Executive Committee.
"Fujisawa has many historical buildings, historic sites, and landscapes left. Unfortunately, as the town developed, many things were lost. We must cherish historical cultural resources. We want to revitalize this awareness through our own activities.We established Fujisawa Konjaku Machinaka Art with friends who agree with this idea.This time, we look back at the past 10 years and discuss future challenges. We will also hold a symposium to explore these possibilities, and hope to make a small contribution to improving the local educational environment."
In addition to the above, ``Fujisawa Modern and Past Machinaka Art Tour 2019'' will also hold exhibitions and symposia at ``Old Ishisone Shoten,'' ``Arita House,'' and ``Fujisawa City Fujisawa-Shuku Koryukan.'' Why not enjoy a "short trip" where you can encounter contemporary art while thinking about the history of the area?
This event has ended.
《Fujisawa Past and Present Machinaka Art Tour 2019 》
[Event date] Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from October 12, 2019 (Saturday) to November 4, 2019 (Monday, public holiday)
[Time] 11:00-17:00
*Kanji Shoten Bread Kurafudo is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., excluding Mondays and Tuesdays, from Saturday, October 12th to Monday, November 4th, 2019 (holidays).
[Venue] Former Ishisone Shoten, Arita House, Tenjinyama area, Fujisawa City Fujisawa-shuku Community Center, Sekiji Shoten (Bread Storehouse Fudo, Ishigura), Former Inamotoya Kimono Store
