Since ancient times, the relationship between mankind and nature has been a symbiotic but subtle contradiction. Human beings foster life on the land, multiply, advance the pace of various civilizations, and gradually lead mankind to modernization. But somehow, human gradually forget the nature mother who gave us the original living nutrients, even at the expense of destruction.
Even so, there are still a group of people who reflect themselves and giving action positively by using art as the medium. They actively explore the relationship between human beings and nature, urging mankind to reflect on the inheritance and development of local culture. At the same time, they are also committed to re-establishing a new connection with the mother of the nature. Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale was established under such a belief. In 2018, this international outdoor art triennale, which began in 2000, has entered its seventh session. This session continues the conceptual axis of the past, with the theme of "Human being as part of nature". With the interpretation of 335 artists, architects and performers from 44 countries, combined with the local cultural characteristics and the strength of young volunteers from all over the world, it presents 379 wonderful site-specific artworks, art projects and musical performances.
The director of Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, Fram Kitagawa has invited artists and architects from local and overseas to explore their creativities in this beautiful place with large hilly terraces, winding roads, towns and villages since year 2000. The committee works hand in hand with related authorities to integrate resources and develop this place in order to revitalize the villages where the population is aging and declining. Hiroshi Hara, a representative architect in Japan, designed the “Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art” (KINARE) located at Tokamachi. A large atrium space in the center of this building was created for interacting with surrounding nature, successfully achieved the idea of "house in the house" and becoming the highlight of this architecture.
Argentine conceptual artist Leandro Erlich was invited to produce two key works for Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018 at the KINARE and Sansho House. Erlich is good at challenging the visual logic of people's daily life scenes with illusion and misplacement, leading the audience to re-examine and think about the relationship between ourselves and the life segments and scenes that we have already taken advantage of through the virtual space. His artwork "Swimming Pool", which was exhibited at the 21st Century Museum of Art in Kanazawa, is a relish for Asian audiences. In KINARE, Erlich created a pond named "Palimpsest: pond of sky" in the atrium of this building, leading the audiences to enjoy a mirror-like mysterious scene by watching the reflection of the building and the blue sky reflected from the pond water.
Erlich’s another artwork "Lost Winter", is showcased in the Sansho House where Sansho House is one of the highly acclaimed accommodations during Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. This artwork "Lost Winter" is a window located in Sansho Hosue with its special treatment. Audience will find their own reflection reflected on the window instead of seeing the scenery outside the window while looking at the window, and any movement that created by the audience will be shown in the opposite direction, forming a kind of illusion but yet an interesting visual experience.
The queen of polka dots, Yayoi Kusama also presented an artwork "Tsumari in Bloom" at the outdoor exhibition space in Nohbutai. A huge flower-shaped sculpture with its bright and vivid colours is placed harmonically with the green nature, projecting its endless vitality and creating an interesting scene.
Kiyotsukyo Gorge Tunnel is one of the must-visit places during the art festival. The famous Chinese architect Ma Yansong and the team of MAD Architects have refurbished the 750-meter-long tunnel and surrounding facilities. Among them, "Light Cave", the lookout platform is created in the end of tunnel for observing the magnificent scenery outside the tunnel. Audience will enjoy the nature scene by looking out from the tunnel as well as looking at the reflection shown on the surface of pond inside the tunnel. The platform is well designed in forming a fairyland throughout the space.
The multidisciplinary architecture and innovation company "Casagrande Laboratory" has also participated in the art triennale this year. This Finland based team built a wooded platform in KINARE, named it as "Echigo-Tsumari Public Sauna” and invites audience having a sauna inside this sauna room. It provided the audience a special sensual experience as being part of nature, allowing the audience to breathe and interating closely with nature.
The Gejo Thatch Tower, which is 11 meters high, was designed and built by the Japanese artist MIKAN and Sogabe Lab from Kanagawa Univerity. With the daily necessities brought by the local residents, this tower is designed for gatherings and performing ballad for the local residents, restoring the life style of the Gejo village where the early huts craftsmen are gathered.
“Snow Art Project” has been organized every winter since 2008. Fireworks, light show and meal project was conducted as the feature programme throughout 3 weekends in 2018. During, fireworks were presented and 30,000 colorful seeds of light were illuminated on the slopes of mountains with thick layers of heavy snow after the nightfall. Banquets were hosted and entertained by the local aged people with their sincere heart, by introducing their usual meals during the winter period and relive the scenario of banquet hosted in Echigo-Tsumari.
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale has a reputation as the world's largest international outdoor art festival. The exhibition area is scattered in six areas of Echigo-Tsumari, namely Tokamachi, Matsudai, Matsunoyama, Kawanishi, Tsunan and Nakazato. Among them, Tokamachi, Matsudai, and Tsunan forms the golden triangle and connecting the key stages of the art festival. Each district has a facility where converted from abandoned primary schools, accommodation, artworks and art relevant activities. The audience will enjoy nature and art simultaneously in this leisurely atmosphere and returning to urban life with a relaxed spirit but full of emotions and thoughts.
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2018
Duration: 29 July 2018 to 17 September 2018 (51 days)
Venue: Echigo-Tsumari, Niigata
Ticket Price: ¥3,500 (adult), ¥3,000 (student), admission free (for kids below 15 years old)
Figure 1：Ma Yansong/ MAD Architects, Light Cave, 2018. ©Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. Photographed by Osamu Nakamura.
Figure 2 top：Yayoi Kusama, Tsumari in Bloom, 2003. ©Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. Photographed by Osamu Nakamura
Figure 2 bottom：Leandro Erlich, Palimpsest: pond of sky, 2018. ©Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. Photographed by Osamu Nakamura.
