FROM OFF TO ON in Kobe, Japan by HOLDUP Architecture

Article source: HOLDUP

KOBE ART BIENNALE
Art in a Container International Exhibition
Through an art history occasionally bound to the outside world, Japanese developed an ability to absorb and reformulate elements of foreign culture to complement their aesthetic preferences. Eventually more pervious, Japan shared its heritage with the rest of the world, hence representing one of the utmost place dedicated to art.

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

• Architects: HOLDUP Architecture
• Project: FROM OFF TO ON
• Location: Kobe, Japan
• Design Team: Guillaume Jounet + Remy Bardin
• Project manager on site: Daiki Nakagawa + Shinya Kaneko
• Interactive design: Romé de la bigne
• Event: ART KOBE BIENNALE
• Dates: 1ST October 2011 to 23RD November 2011Budget: 5700€
• Dimensions: L=12m x l=2.5m x H=2,5m
• Photography: HOLDUP
• Video: HOLDUP
• Support: Kobe Design University

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Deriving strength from its grievous history, from WWII bombing to the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, Kobe is no exception. Its citizens found in art and culture a spiritual support and conducted the restoration process with a creative approach. Garnering international recognition after setting forth the “Culture Creation City Declaration” in 2005 and after becoming the Unesco City of Design in 2009, the capital city of Hyôgo Prefecture is now ready to radiate worldwide.

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

ART IN A CONTAINER

Theme : « Kira »
To our understanding, « kira » defines someone’s inner brilliance and capacity to highlight surroundings by transmission. In other terms, any person is able to reach a state of consciousness in which he/she can perceive its environment with clear-sightedness, and therefore « illuminate » it. Indeed, kira is reciprocal and contagious: by unveiling hidden potential around us, we reveal and spread charms that enrich us all.

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

As a manifestation of kira, explorers are sensitive enough to carefully observe their environment, chasing marvels of unknown lands: nothing is taken for granted, everything is « extra-ordinary ».

FImage Courtesy HOLDUP

FROM OFF TO ON

Interactive Experience
This installation invites people to dialog through art by using an interactive and universal media: hand-drawing. Like a blank canvas, the container embodies a receptacle for artists and art amateurs’ creativity as they « print » their emotions on a surprising table settled inside.

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Trapped in the dark and with a UV pen for only equipment, the visitor is expected to feel his way along. He eventually notices the presence of a massive volume settled in the centre of the space. When he approaches that mass, he notices that UV-lights are progressively switching on, reaching their maximum intensity when he touches it. Getting eyesight back, he is eventually able to tell the volume is a large drawing table.

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Rm: a UV-light is not itself a proper light, but turns white objects into lights! The visitor is the genuine light!!

Actually, the visitor is assimilated to a speleologist discovering a primitive cave with prehistoric drawings painted on the rock, except that drawings are not relics from past ages. Basically, the whole space is dark until he draws on the table. Drawing is the only way to be involved and visualize the « self-made exhibition »: to see you must do!

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

Image Courtesy HOLDUP

System

Tags: Japan, Kobe

Categories: Exhibition Center, Public Art

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