the Cameos

Jan, 2023

the 71st graduation show

Tokyo University of the Arts

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 本作は、童話「浦島太郎」をテーマにしています。起源を中国に持つこの物語は、韓国にも似た話が存在し、日本では８世紀頃成立の丹後風土記逸文にあるものが最古とされています。

　しかし1300年の過程で、道徳的価値を付加するために物語はアレンジされ、いくつかの要素は排除されてきました。これらの彫刻は、かつてこの物語に登場していたキャラクターたちです。そして会場に流れる音声は、最も古い「浦島太郎」と、消えたそれらのために私が台本を充てたものです。

　人類は合理的で洗練された社会を目指す過程で、どれだけたくさんの物事を不要とみなしてきたのでしょう。  私はこうして忘れられた存在に、照明を当てたいと思います。過去のそれらは、現代の私たちとは無関係であると言えるでしょうか？

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     This work is inspired by ‘Urashima Taroʼ, which is a well-known folk tale in Japan.  It is derived from China and there is a similar one in Korea as well. The earliest source in Japan is found in a publication of the 8th century. 

      Through over 1300 years, Japan has erased some elements instead of adding moral lessons. For instance, Taro and the goddess originally sailed a boat to Horai Immortal Island. However, the boat was replaced with a turtle in order to teach a moral: One good turn deserves another. 

      The wooden sculptures are the deleted characters of this story. Also, the sounds are a recitation of the earliest tale, and lines I wrote for them. They have easily disappeared although they played supporting roles in expressing the scenes in an exceptional way…

      Similar issues happen in every current society. How many elements have we looked on as worthless in the process of pursuing the rational sophisticated world?     I would like to highlight these forgotten beings.  Who could assert that those pasts are irrelevant to us?