When I stand here I hear the earth is turning
Seven monitors lined in a corridor connecting the galleries of the Akiyoshidai International Art Village, each displaying a video of passages through liminal spaces in Akiyoshi or repetitive sequences of choreographed movements.
The work was developed for The Future of This Land, a group exhibition reflecting on the depopulation and transformation of the Akiyoshi and Yamaguchi prefectures. Known for their limestone deposits and stone industry, these regions faced an uncertain future as resources dwindled, prompting critical discussions about political agendas and strategies for regional development.
When I stand here I hear the earth is turning was rooted in the Japanese concept of 間 (MA). MA represents an in-between space that coexists with and challenges its surrounding framework, emphasizing both the objective sense of place and the subjective experience of presence. Originating from Shinto’s harmony – focused philosophy and Buddhism’s emphasis on impermanence, MA contrasts with Western thought, which prioritizes self-reference and identity.
The installation was presented in the building designed by Arata Isozaki, who introduced the concept of MA to Western audiences at the MA – Space-Time in Japan exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York, bringing MA to international attention.
Installation
7 monitors with videos and sound
Akiyoshidai International Art Village Yamaguchi, Japan, 2018
References:
Henk Oosterling, A Culture of the ‘Inter’, Japanese Notions ma and basho
When I stand here I hear the earth is turning
Installation
7 monitors with videos and sound
Akiyoshidai International Art Village Yamaguchi, Japan, 2018
Seven monitors lined in a corridor connecting the galleries of the Akiyoshidai International Art Village, each displaying a video of passages through liminal spaces in Akiyoshi or repetitive sequences of choreographed movements.
The work was developed for The Future of This Land, a group exhibition reflecting on the depopulation and transformation of the Akiyoshi and Yamaguchi prefectures. Known for their limestone deposits and stone industry, these regions faced an uncertain future as resources dwindled, prompting critical discussions about political agendas and strategies for regional development.
When I stand here I hear the earth is turning was rooted in the Japanese concept of 間 (MA). MA represents an in-between space that coexists with and challenges its surrounding framework, emphasizing both the objective sense of place and the subjective experience of presence. Originating from Shinto’s harmony – focused philosophy and Buddhism’s emphasis on impermanence, MA contrasts with Western thought, which prioritizes self-reference and identity.
The installation was presented in the building designed by Arata Isozaki, who introduced the concept of MA to Western audiences at the MA – Space-Time in Japan exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York, bringing MA to international attention.
References:
Henk Oosterling, A Culture of the ‘Inter’, Japanese Notions ma and basho