The 19th AIOE-Abiko International Open-Air Art Exhibition was kicked off by an opening ceremony at the ex-Inoue residence on October 22, 2016. Following an opening address by Mr. Komaba, chief of the executive committee, congratulatory speeches were given by Mr. Aoki, vice mayor and Mr. Imai, prefectural assembly member. Then art creators including several foreign artists were also introduced. Mr. Hesaki and Mr. Sato interpreted these speeches on the spot.

　　　Date/Time: Saturday October 22, 2016 11:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

　　　Venues: Ex-Inoue Residence, Fusa Citizen’s Wood, Miyanomori Park, etc.

　　　Volunteer interpreters: 7 – M. Kitagawa, M. Sato, T. Sugano, T. Suzuki, K. Nakajima, H. Yamanishi,　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Y. Hesaki (AIRA Volunteer section manager)

A long line of around 60 people started for a half-day lecture hiking. During the walking, each artist of home and abroad made explanation on the aim or intention of the work, the most toiled thing during the creation, etc. at the location of the respective artwork. One interpreter for each foreign artist was assigned to help understanding explanations made by Japanese artists. Extremely technical wordings such as abstract, philosophical, or idealistic notion seemed hard for volunteers to sufficiently translate.

Take Austrian artist Adam Ulen’s work “2045” for example, which is composed of small military-uniform-clad 20 men lining with 4 by 5 rows. The real meaning was disclosed that the numbers 4 and 20 stand for Adolf Hitler’s birthday April 20, and 5 for an unknown jargon. What the artist intends to tell us is that “If a system is already authoritarian, the ideological manipulation starts in childhood.” Somewhat a political intention is implicated.

 

Many more masterpieces are displayed in the wood, on a pond and the hills, in the nearby library, and at some other locations. Medias did not miss the annual event. Chiba TV televised some of the outstanding installations together with a welcome address by Mr. Egami, representative of the AIOE. Mr. Simon Whetham of U.K. and Ms. Olga Plastira of Greece explained through the camera about their artworks, which were duly translated by an interpreter. FM Radio-Edogawa also broadcast live from the exhibition site.

Two female students from Chiba University worked hard till the evening, who participated in the event in line with the university’s global volunteer program. They had taken part in a preliminary program “work shop” at the Fusa elementary school on October 14, and assisted Ms. Helen Hirai from Ireland with her making a large laborious work for the event.

The 19th AIOE exhibition lasts till Sunday, November 7, 2016.

(No. 16-18 Translated by T. Sugano)