Go, see, and feel the world of art
File.28 Wakabacho Wharf "COVID-19 Memorial Theater"
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

Wakabacho Wharf opened in 2017 as an arts center that combines a small theater, studio, and dormitory-style accommodation. This is a space established by playwright/director Shin Sato as a total settlement of his stage activities. The “Wharf Workshop” has been held so far for young artists who are active in cities in neighboring Asia to gather, talk, learn, and disseminate both domestically and internationally.

* Click here for a report on the Wharf Workshop 2018 !

* Click here for a report of the Wharf Workshop 2019 !
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In late March, Sato, who read the feeling of "I can't enjoy it with peace of mind" from the facial expressions of the guests who visited the theater, decided to refrain from selling the entire building by June 30. It also meant that the activities of the wharf workshops, which had been repeatedly prepared, would stop. However, Mr. Sato does not just make it "closed". While the facility operation was suspended, the space was opened to the community as an “vacant lot ” and the activity of “ Wakabacho Wharf Online ” was started to deliver the situation in real time.

The first stage of the project is the "COVID-19 Memorial Theater" where various artists spell "graffiti" on the wall of the small theater on the first floor. It was broadcast live on the "Warf Channel" , but it's not interesting just to watch it far away. So, cross the prefectural borderWe visited Wakaba-cho Wharf in late June when the refraining from moving was eased.

The white walls of the small theater, known as the "white box," are filled with graffiti by the various artists who visit us every day.
“I thought it was because of the white walls,” Sato says, but it's a surreal world.

Obviously, there are windows and doors on the wall. I didn't notice it, and when I opened them all up, I felt surprisingly bright and peaceful. Although it's the same space, the image is quite different, so it's strange.

This is a graffiti by artist Yuri Miyauchi who appeared as a top batter.

Named after "COVID19-The Memorial Theater" Kobito and others also appeared.

It may be opened as a waiting room for the nearby Mini Theater Jack & Betty, and there is a flyer for the movie that was postponed in the corner. This is also a part of art.

The day we visited is the regular "well end meeting" on Tuesday. It was a simple meeting in which neighboring art facilities such as Jack & Betty and Cinema Lin gathered together to look back on this week, but it was a good opportunity to deepen the connection between Wakaba Town Wharf and the town.

We asked Mr. Sato, who finished the Iwabata meeting, about the future of Wakaba Town Wharf.

"I think it's going to be really tough. Being forced to "self-restraint" for a couple of months should definitely have an impact on children in particular. It may be necessary to move to a slightly different stage from.
What can the artist do in such a situation? The role of theater is probably to produce words. I think that it has the role of turning emotions that everyone can't express well into concrete words.''

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“One thing that is clear in me is that I want to keep this facility until I hand it over to the next generation of young people. I want to perform my own work, but at first I think about a new way and stabilize the operation I have to do it."

The first activity to resume from July is "Machi Naka Gallery (1) Wall Exhibition". The walls of the theater, which were painted by the brushes of many artists, are open to the public.
During the period, he said that he will hold a "Hatobakurabu" workshop where children will use the floor instead of the wall to do graffiti. I'm looking forward to how far that white space grows.

At the wharf workshop, which had been suspended, there was a sign that it was about to move around the end of the year. Is clear to not be easy, but in order to achieve a continuous collaboration with representation who of around the country and neighboring Asian cities, crowdfunding also Tachinobo clogs.
* Click here for an overview of Sato's thoughts and crowdfunding !

It slows down but does not stop. The days of Wakaba-cho Wharf are likely to continue to keep an eye on them.