Smart Illumination Yokohama 2013 Report

Now is the perfect season for illuminations, as we are starting to feel like wearing thick knitwear.

"Smart Illumination Yokohama 2013" is currently being held. For five days (10/23-27), artists, citizens and businesses will further upgrade the usual Yokohama night view. Magcal staff also went to this city-wide event. Here is a little introduction to the venue.

Asia's first appearance of Numen/For use

First up is Numen/For use, which is making its first appearance in Asia. A giant balloon has appeared in Zo-no-hana Park! A figure of a person is floating in the air. Yes, you can get inside this balloon! There are net hammocks strung up inside.
Numen/For use is a Croatian-Austrian artist group. This is your chance to experience their world-famous work, which also includes stage art. We interviewed them at Magcal. Please refer to this as well.

Takayuki Fujimoto + Motoi Ishibashi + Daito Manabe "Time Lapse Plant_One Ring -Energy Rescue Ship Version-"

At the tip of the elephant's trunk, where you can see the Red Brick Warehouse on the opposite bank, is Time Lapse Plant One Ring -Energy Rescue Ship Version- by Takayuki Fujimoto and others. This work can only be enjoyed by going inside. The color of the shadows is set to change to three colors in the last 20 minutes, so I would like you to enjoy the whole experience, including the difference between the first and second halves. There are many technical ingenuity in the work, so please read the interview with Fujimoto for more details.

TOCHIKA "TRACK" and Pika Pika food stall

Under the overpass, there was a video work by Tochka, which has been updated since last year. And there was also a Pika Pika food stall. People who happened to be there could draw lines of light using the same technique as Tochka's work. Try to see what you can draw in 5 seconds.

"Light Scribble" Participating company: Nakagawa Chemical

This is a graffiti corner that uses "Super Luminous Tape" made by Nakagawa Chemical, a company that manufactures tape that stores light and is often used for emergencies. It can also be used for Christmas decorations in the coming season.

The doodles drawn using LED lights disappear after about 20 minutes, so you can enjoy them over and over again.

Kyota Takahashi "Fruit of Light" "The meeting Shadow Play"

The Hikari no Mi were shining brightly on the trees in Yamashita Park and Zo-no-hana Park. If you look closely, you can see many smiling faces. These were handmade fruits drawn by workshop participants. Hikari no Mi can also be seen at Marine Tower, Starbucks Yokohama Motomachi Branch, NTT East Kanagawa Branch, Osanbashi Pier, and other places.

The meeting shadow play, also by Kyota Takahashi, is a work that can be seen from afar, and makes passersby stop and take a look. I also came across a lovely date scene of a couple making a heart shape and taking a commemorative photo. Why not try projecting your shadow onto the giant screen and taking a commemorative photo?

And the Illuminator, Junichi Kusaka!

As yesterday was the opening day, Kusaka-san appeared in a red and white outfit appropriate for the first day.

At Zou-no-hana Terrace, you can also try on Kusaka's Illumiwear!

There is so much to see at Smart Illumination Yokohama that it's impossible to list them all here. First of all, please visit Zou-no-hana Terrace. Then, try to wander around to various other places from there. You'll be able to experience a slightly different view of Yokohama's nightscape!

■ Smart Illumination Yokohama 2013 ■

October 23 (Wed) - 27 (Sun) 17:00-22:00 *Opening times vary depending on the program.

Theme: Illuminations for a new era proposed by Yokohama, an environmentally friendly future city

Venues: Zo-no-hana Park, Yamashita Park, Minato Mirai 21 District, Yokohama Station West Exit, and more