Kizugawa Art―a Budding Art Event in Rural Kyoto Returns in November
Yui Kajita (Faculty of Letters, 2nd Year)
Recently, there has been a rush of art events in Japan. They became the big trend, which was especially notable last year in 2010. The most famous of them all is undoubtedly Setouchi International Art Festival, which showcased all kinds of art on the beautiful islands of Setouchi. One that is on a smaller scale but is just as exciting is the event, “Kizugawa Art.” This event is held in Kizugawa-shi, a suburb in southern Kyoto, less than half an hour’s train-ride from Doshisha University. Although based in a city that is not so famous for its artistic qualities, Kizugawa Art was very successful when it made its debut last year as a “preliminary event.” It brought in people not only from the Kansai area, but also places such as Tokyo. This year, since it is part of the National Cultural Festival of Kyoto, it is expected to be an even bigger event. The participating artists have come in from prefectures as far away as Nagano and Hiroshima. By the time this issue of The Doshisha Student is out, this year’s event will be close to its climax ― the dates are set for November 3rd to 13th, 2011.
The city of Kizugawa was formed when three towns ― Yamashiro, Kamo, and Kizu ― joined together in 2007. As a result, these towns located along Kizugawa (River) saw gradual but great changes. A conspicuous recent development is the amount of large-scale construction that is accelerating throughout Kizugawashi. One train ride from Kamo to Kizu Station will show a passenger the extent to which the land has been altered. Where bamboo groves and open grassland had grown lush and verdant, tractors have flattened out the land, leaving neat, tasteless, trapezoidal mounds of dirt. For many natives, it is both depressing and unsettling. If things continue like this, the uniqueness found in each of the three towns may come to be completely disregarded, even lost.
One of the aims of Kizugawa Art is to turn this situation around and keep the culture alive. In Kizugawa-shi, “a culture that is over a millennium old is passed down as our pride,” says the event’s website. Poems about Kizugawa and the surrounding land appear in the Nara period’s Manyoshu, and during this era, Japan placed its capital in Kunikyo of Kamo for a few years. There are also temples in Kizugawa- shi that holds national treasures ― the land is full of history. At the same time, history merges with the modern in some places, and the city is still developing to make new histories. The histories, memories, and signs of life that still live on in Kizugawa-shi create a certain beauty unique to it. The event’s purpose is to “recognize anew this city that is modern, yet ancient, and beautiful at once” through the power of art. It invites artists to present and involve their artwork in this singular environment of Kizugawa- shi. For eleven days, all kinds of artwork ― from small ceramic creature-like objects to huge, open-space installations ― take up unique spaces in the city expressly chosen each year by the event staff. Visitors are free to explore them in any way they wish. It gives people a chance to interact with art that tugs at their imagination and discover, or rediscover, Kizugawa-shi.
Kizugawa Art is, of course, an exciting event for a citizen of Kizugawa-shi, especially one who is interested in art, but why is it so exciting for people coming in from outside the city? One reason may be that all the artworks are placed in an environment that is peculiar, expressive, and seeping with memories. Whether it is an aged kura with creamy clay walls, or the remains of a redbrick railway tunnel, the atmosphere the setting creates by becoming a part of the art is an enchanting world to experience. For people unacquainted with the city, it is an interesting way to explore and get to know an unfamiliar place. Moreover, the artists, who have been chosen out of many applicants all over Japan, are diverse and outstanding. It is intriguing to see what they take in from and reflect to the environment around them. A whole city-turned-gallery, free of charge ― it is an enticing prospect.
Although it may not be as well-known as some other art festivals yet, Kizugawa Art has its own strongpoint. One art critic, reviewing all the art events he had attended in 2010, remarked that Kizugawa’s event is especially remarkable for its teamwork with the city. Kizugawa Art’s project team is mainly made up of some of the city’s civil servants, tourist information center personnel, and local volunteers. The critic was pleasantly surprised by the amount of support the city government and the locals gave to the event. The little details, such as how an information booth was set up inside Kizu Station during the event and how the staff overlooking the artwork
The Yagi-tei kura, one of the main
exhibit sites of Kizugawa Art
were all volunteering locals, gave Kizugawa Art a homely and friendly air, making it an appealing event to go to.
So many things can happen through the power of art. It lies close to the base of all cultures today. It can connect people, encourage people to discover their surroundings, give pleasure, and so on. In short, it can make a difference. Kizugawa Art was partly inspired by a group of local artists, who live and create in a remote mountain area in Kizugawa-shi. Just as the creator of the event discovered this unexpected art scene in a corner of Kizugawa-shi, Kizugawa Art creates opportunities for people both in and outside the city to discover new possibilities for their neighborhoods, come together in a community ― and simply have fun.
This year, Kizugawa Art has returned bigger and stronger. The fascinating progress of the event can be found on its official blog. To get a look into a modern art scene of Japan, search “Kizugawa Art” on the Internet. However, seeing pictures and experiencing in person are two very different things. Curious about what new creation the artists gave birth to in a rural city of Kyoto? Then take a day off in Kizugawa-shi and amble through its artistic streets. Being part of this event is a unique experience that one does not stumble upon often; it is not too late to take a look!
