2019
Video, someiyoshino-cherry tree, uiro-japanese rice jelly, watercolor paints, food coloring, paper wrapped wires, soil
10'30", 350×625×420 cm
The “Shinkansen” the world’s first high-speed railway and dream infrastructure, which opened 55 years ago in line with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, had a major impact on people’s lives and culture. Uiro (Japanese steamed cake), which by now i s widely famous as a local specialty of Nagoya, had also come to be recognized throughout Japan due to being selected for in-train sales on the Shinkansen.
Eight years from now in 2027, the “Chuo Shinkansen” maglev line that connects Tokyo and Osaka i n approximate l y one hour, w i l l begin operati n g here i n Nagoya. Large-scale urban developments that are simultaneously underway will once more bring about much change to the cityscape, and also change the flow of popul ation to and from th e city. As a result of such influen ces, “N agoya’ s
Specialty” may indeed also be subject to change.
On this occasion I attempted to take “Uiro,” Aichi prefecture a nd Nagoya’ s local specialty born in the Showa period, and transform it from something that is eaten to something that is to be viewed and appreciated. My objective is to preserve and record “Uiro” and its reputation as a local specialty of Nagoya,fearing the possibility for it to be replaced with something else in light of then e winfrastructure that is established.
The work at the same time reflects my sincere desire to be able to eat “Uiro,” a confectionery that I love so dearly, for the rest of my life.
Awards
MON, NOV 04, 2019 Updated
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