18th Abiko International Open-Air Art Exhibition Started

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2015

Venue: Ex-Inoue Residence and Several Locations in Fusa area

AIRA voluntary interpreters: M. Kurata, M. Sato, T. Sugano, K. Nakayama, R. Hama, S. Fujii, Y. Hesaki, T. Yoshida

　An opening ceremony and a lecture hiking on the 18th Abiko International Open-Air Art Exhibition 2015 were held on October 24. Answering to a request, AIRA dispatched 7 volunteers to interpret participating artists’ self-introductions and explanations on their works.

　The event was blessed by bright and splendid autumn sunshine. The opening ceremony was held in front of a storehouse at the former Inoue residence due to the ongoing repair work at the usual inner garden. Ms. Iwasawa, a student of Chiba University did a good job as a receptionist to hand guests respective nametag, etc. AIRA members interpreted the greeting of Mr. Komaba, chairperson of the art exhibition executive committee, Mr. Hoshino, mayor of Abiko, and the self-introduction of all artists including 3 foreign and Japanese invitational artists in English and Japanese respectively.

　In his speech, Mr. Hoshino hoped that this exhibition would be a spring board for cultural and human exchange between foreign and Japanese artists, and hoped for a chance that Fusa would become a dispatching base of Japanese culture. It seems desirable that residents and the city administration cooperate each other to the development of the city.

　Soon after the opening ceremony, the long-awaited lecture hike started. Along the tour, artists introduced their own works and answered to questions in front of respective installation. Interpreters managed to explain those conversations in English or Japanese, and vice versa. Foreign artists expressed on the spot about inspiration they got after their arrival in Abiko. Some works involve abstract and philosophical meanings, which they created with a clue they found about Japanese culture and tradition.

　Ms. Iwasawa led around 60 participants hoisting a flag in the lecture hiking. Hikers walked around Aijima woods and city woods in Fusa in the morning, and Miyanomori park, city library, the grassy yard of the committee office, and others in the afternoon. The course was about 9 km in total, taking about 4 hours to finish. They went up staircases and made the ascent and descent of a hill, walked roads, and a path to see unique objets d’art amid a rice field. That was a hard job. But I was touched especially when I heard explanations on works by artists themselves.

　One of attractive exhibits was a collection of pictures previously painted on October 10 by 5th graders at Fusa elementary school. Listening to the tune of piano by Mr. Komaba, who also played piano freely as melodies sprung out, children drew as they liked following what he said the concept of “drowning sound and playing pictures”. Two foreign artists joined the drawing event. Two AIRA interpreters and a Chiba university student assisted their activities as well.

　In the lecture hike, a group of two volunteers was in charge of one foreign artist. Interpreter’s work was not an easy one but everyone seemed enjoying the chance to see wonderful works along with the half-day duty. Their duty went on well in general since most of the voluntary interpreters had studied beforehand by examining the art-works in the field. 　　(No. 15-11)