8

technology -

towards a deep  ecology of art, architecture and being


research project of goldsmiths, university of london 

director: raphael jay adjani


associate: sian ni mhuiri

 

description


omomuki - the second in the red cube series -

is an exquisite one-to-one experience between artist and spectator, host and guest. It is an inter-active, immersive space of the sensuous and senses.


inspired by the tea ceremony (japanese: sado = way of tea) – ajaykumar, and 8 ensemble, host an intimate contemporary ‘tea ceremony’ for japanese and international guests: an exhibition that engages with the concept of ‘deep ecology’ with the as well as the idea of ‘relational being’ that is found in asian art and philosophy.


while elements of sado as it is usually understood are altered, the inter-active and immersive essence of it is savoured and cherished in this contemporary conception utilising contemporary technologies. here ajaykumar investigates the significance of certain asian philosophical ideas and aesthetics to evolve an ecology of art, architecture and being.



茶道にインスパイアされた、ajaykumarと8アンサンブルがもてなす、日本人と世界に向けた現代版‘茶の湯。これは東洋の芸術と思想に見出される‘リレーショナル・ビーイング’の考え方と共に‘ディープエコロジー’のコンセプトに深く根ざしたエキシビジョンである。


これまでに理解されてきた茶道の要素が変化の一途をたどる一方、インタラクティヴで深く内包されたその本質は、テクノロジーを実用化した現代というひとつの概念の中で。ajaykumarは場を用い、アート、建築と存在の生態学を発展させる東洋哲学思想と芸術論の重要さを問う。


with thanks to daisuke fujisawa  and naomi ohki for their advice and support.


imagine:


a guest arrives at the gallery building and is greeted by a host. the guest is offered a seat at the sofa, where the host helps remove the guest’s shoes and offers her/him a pair of slippers to wear. the guest is then guided to the gallery space by the host, viewing, along the way, abstract pictures inspired by japan’s inland sea (seto naikai), tea ceremony, architecture and gardens. the pictures are illuminated by a series of pebble shaped floor lights, evoking a garden path. the gallery walls, floor and ceiling are bathed by vermillion red light: evoking a ‘womb’ or red cube.


inside the gallery space a second host greets them. the first host leaves the guest with the second host. the guest is offered a seat and a glass of water. an evocative film begins, inspired by

deep-ecological ideas found by the 8 artists’ personal exploration of tadao ando’s architectural conceptions. while the guest watches the film, the second host washes and massages her/his feet and attends the guest as the film plays. at the end of the film, the second host excuses himself and leaves the gallery, the guest is momentarily alone in the space. the first host returns and offers the guest green tea flavoured ice cream to savour and a copy of the exhibition catalogue to view. The host waits at a discrete distance, available to respond to the guests needs or queries, and at an appropriate time invites the guest to join the artist in the ‘meeting room’.


In the ‘meeting room’, the guest has the opportunity to enjoy a moment of informal conviviality with the artist/hosts. The guest has the opportunity also, should s/he wish, to order pictures or a copy of the film. The guest has her/his shoes and any other belongings entrusted to the first host, returned, and s/he is bid farewell.


view via the sublime filmic work, version for the internet: naka-ma


conception and direction

ajaykumar


curator

eriko kaniwa


production

change the world gallery, omotesando, tokyo


artists involved

ajaykumar, satomi mihira, sian ni mhuiri, daniel somerville,

akiko yamaguchi



趣

red cube series

02:

omomuki


change the world gallery

omotesando, tokyo, japan

16-18 march, 2012


conception direction: raphael jay adjani


curation: eriko kaniwa

red cube


concept-philosophy


more about the inter-action and immersion


other red cubes