R5 since then I from now

Organizier team: Daisuke Takeya, Mineki Murata, Yuzuru Maeda, TAKUMICHAN, Mii Maekawa, Maron Shibukawa

Participating artists and critics: Béatrice Didier (Belgium), Hélène Lafebre (Canada), Hector Canonge (the USA), Urich Lau (Singapore), Yeonjeong (South Korea), Evamaria Schaller (Austria/Germany), Andrew Lam (Hong Kong), Daisuke Takeya, Mineki Murata, Yuzuru Maeda, TAKUMICHAN, Mii Maekawa, Maron Shibukawa

Local advisor: Chie Kajiwara
Videographer/Photographer: Robert Cross (Canada), Koishiro Takahashi(Ishinomaki)
Media supporter: Miri Hamada
Poster designer: Manami Seki
Web master: Testuro Nohara

Supported by:
Education Bureau of the City of Ishinomaki, Social Welfare Council of the City of Ishinomaki, Ishinomaki City Arts and Culture Foundation, Sanriku-Kahoku Shinpōsha (Ishinomaki Kahoku), Ishinomaki Hibi Shinbun Newspaper, Radio Ishinomaki FM76.4, Institute of Reborn-Art Festival

Subisidies
Field Trip Project Organizing Committee, 3.11 Memorial Network Foundation, WALLONIE BRUXELLES INTERNATIONAL, LASALLE College of the Arts, Canada Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council

What exactly are “ruins”? “遺構 | 以降 since then | from now” is an art project in which researchers and performance artists from Japan and abroad think together with citizens through field research, a symposium, and performance art. Two tsunami ruins in Ishinomaki city leave strong traces of the incident and precious memories from even before. How can we deal with it, utilize it, and pass it on to the next generation?

The pandemic is coming to an end. “Since then,” people start to move again, mingle, and a new community is born. How will the communities expand “from now”, which marks the end of the days that were said to be the “new normal”? Let’s listen to the wind together and put our hands on the earth. Let us sow the seeds.

Performance art uses the body as a material. We respond to various social and environmental issues with art, literally using our bodies. Every daily communication can be said to be a performative activity (through the body). Performance art is hidden everywhere in small hand gestures. For ordinary days “from now”, an extraordinary free somatic expression that is in everyday life = performance art. Let’s go beyond the border.

PROGRAM

April 16 Sun.

Things Left Behind/Things We Leave Behind/Things Remain – Symposium on Remains of Everyone Gathering

Ruins were created as a result of the disaster, and there was a human will (subject) to preserve them. How will they be actively utilized by the local citizens? This is an opportunity to think about the two earthquake remains museums in the city with historians, art historians, art project specialists, artists from Japan and abroad, local community members, and the audience.

Contribution/Review

How can third parties be involved in passing on the memory of the earthquake? -Through the discussion of “Things Left Behind/Things We Leave Behind/Things Remain – Symposium on Remains of Everyone Gathering” –  By Chie Kajiwara (Japanese language only for now. English translation coming in 2024)

”Things Left Behind/Things We Leave Behind/Things Remain – Symposium on Remains of Everyone Gathering”
Symposium Report  By Maron Shibuhaka
(Japanese language only for now. English translation coming in 2024)

Photo Gallery

April 19 Wed.

Let’s go to a farmland!

DAIS Ishinomaki, located in the Mano ward of Ishinomaki city, will be slowly and organically formed as a multilayered cultural facility where different communities can jointly experience art, food, and nature in the area. Wild weeds have grown thick and the vast site that has been neglected will be regenerated as farmland by a group of amateurs.

April 20 Thu.

Performance art event #1 Diffuse reflection at night

Venue: Theater Kinemathica (Open 17:00, Start 17:30) 
Cover charge: 2,000 yen (including 1 drink)

A series of approx. 10 minutes performances by 11 performance artists from Japan and abroad. The rich individuality of each artist explodes, expanding the possibilities of somatic expression. Many audience wondering “what is performance art?” Joined us  at this rare opportunity for a special experience.

Photo Gallery

April 21 Fri.

Performance event#2 Ishinomaki as a Performance City

Various locations citywide.

Photo Gallery

April 22 Sat.

Performance Art Workshop

Venue: DAIS Ishinomaki
Fee: 2,000 yen (Plus 1,000 yen with the performance event on April 20)
Max. Participants: 20 (18 years or older)

1pm ~ 1:45pm
Béatrice Didier (Beligium) Workshop “HERE AND NOW WITH BODY”

Experimental theatrical exercises to confront and explore own ways of “being here and now”. Focus on breathing, controlling energy, concentration skill, and awareness of the body in relation to; space, time, other bodies, and an object as a “partner”.

2pm ~ 2:45pm
Hector Canonge (USA) Workshop “PERFORMING THE BODY”

Workshop that explores corporeal movement and somatic expression through the technique of somatic energy developed by Hector Canonge. Participants with no experience are invited to participate and express their inner performative self.

April 23 Sun.

Chodo-Festival participation

Participated in an outdoor performance (with Ishinomakiʼs diverse communities) + international cuisine + art exhibition “Sappari Chodo Stenenda-on(abbreviation: Chodo Fes)”.

Through a heterogeneous performance woven by diverse subjects, regardless of disabilities, nationality, or genre of art, we are able to promote the richness of nature’s way of life in this multi-purpose outdoor art event held in Mano, Ishinomaki City that reconsiders the meaning of art as a means of living and the philosophy of coexistence. The title is in the Ishinomaki dialect and means “I cannot sit still at all.” It was a praxis aimed at the future of the region and a circulative society by tickling the post-COVID pandemic norms with the “Chodofes thinking”.