IN PRASE OF SHADOWS
WORKSHOP with Tamás
Szvet as part as the
Akiyoshidai International Art Village Residency Program
秋吉台国際芸術村
11.02.2016.
Renaissa Nagato / Yamaguchi prefecture / JAPAN
Akiyoshidai International Art Village Residency Program
秋吉台国際芸術村
11.02.2016.
Renaissa Nagato / Yamaguchi prefecture / JAPAN
The workshop organized by the Akiyoshidai International Art Village, as part as the Artist in Residence program in 2016. Connected to the annual theme of AIAV “The
Features of This Land” we created a light installation together with a group of participants.
The
inspiration of the workshop was Junichiro Tanizaki’s essay: in praise of
shadows (1977). The text discusses
traditional Japanese aesthetics in contrast with change by using light
and darkness as symbols.
The
technique – I refer in the workshop - based on a mirror I have seen in Kyoto. The makyo magic mirror is an ancient art that can be traced
back to (206 BC – 24 AD). The mirrors were made out of solid bronze. The front is a
shiny polished surface and could be used as a mirror, while the back has a
design cast in the bronze. When
bright sunlight or other bright light reflects onto the mirror, the mirror
seems to become transparent. If that light is reflected from the mirror
towards a wall, the pattern on the back of the mirror is then projected onto
the wall.
During
the workshop we used simple mirrors. After drawing a negative image on the
mirror surface we installed them in a dark room, and projected the positive
picture into the space with a help of flash lights.For
the drawings we used collected images of Akiyoshidai. Therefore the topic was
the history of the region. In this case the shadows symbolize the past, the
culture, and – by making it alive with light - we bring it to the present and
the future.
2016 - AIAV Akiyoshidai
International Art Village, Yamaguchi Prefecture / JP
