Project

Beginning of Project

It was held at Washington Square Park in New York on April first 1996. It was the first IKIRO performance held outside Japan. IKIRO man started writing IKIRO one year before the performance. He simply needed a lot of IKIRO papers for the installation he planned in the park. During the preparation he realized writing IKIRO everyday was as important a routine as the performance itself. It was a special feeling he had never experienced before. He thought this long-term expression could be a life project. The performance in the park lasted for 4 hours. He asked friends to distribute the concept sheets of the performance. Since then he has been writing IKIRO as an art project. Writing IKIRO with IKIRO papers became his own performance style.

プロジェクトの始まり

1996年4月1日に、ニューヨークのワシントン・スクエア・パークで行ったパフォーマンス。生きろの人は公園の中心で「生きろ」を書き続け、観客には「生きろ」についてのコンセプトシートが配られた。公園を「生きろ」の紙で埋め尽くすためには一年間の準備期間を要した。その過程で生きろの人は、それ自体がライフ・プロジェクトになると思うようになった。このパフォーマンスでの体験がきっかけとなり毎日「生きろ」と書き続けることをベースにしたプロジェクトが始まった。

”IKIRO” connects Trevel

When IKIRO man traveled in Takuramacan desert in1996 he met a backpacker who went to Mt. Kailash. The backpacker said, “Going there is very difficult because of the high altitude and bad road condition, sometimes people die on the way there. It is not a matter of you choosing Mt. Kailash, because Mt. Kailash chooses you.” Next year IKIRO man visited Mt. Kailash to write “IKIRO” in front of the holy mountain. He started from Lhasa on a bicycle and also hitchhiked to get to Mt. Kailash. It was a really tough trip but on the way to there he learned a lot of things. Since then he has been combining travel and IKIRO performance as an art project.

旅と結びついた「生きろ」

生きろの人はチベットにあるカイラス山で「生きろ」を書いた。きっかけは、生きろの人が旅先で出会った旅人の一言だった。カイラスは人を選ぶ。自分はカイラスの前で「生きろ」と書くことができる人間なのか、生きろの人はそれを確かめたくなった。カイラスは標高6656m、夜間ｰ20℃になる過酷な場所だった。この旅から、旅とプロジェクトが一体となった「生きろ」プロジェクトのスタイルが段々と出来上がってゆく。

Roots of Creation

IKIRO man went to some countries in Africa to think about the roots of creation. At that time he was more interested in cultural anthropology than contemporary art. He visited many tribes who are based on primitive living. Their simple way of living inspired IKIRO man and the IKIRO project. He sometimes wrote IKIRO in front of the people who were really poor. This bitter experience motivated him to introduce the donation systems in the IKIRO project later. One day he had a collaboration with the Datoga tribe. He pantomimed and wrote IKIRO, and they did a traditional ritual. It was like exchanging spirits.

創造の起源を求めて

生きろの人は作ることのルーツについて考えるためにアフリカを旅し、原始的な生活をするいくつかの部族を訪れた。彼らのシンプルな生き方は、生きろの人に強いインスピレーションを与えた。貧しい人たちの前で「生きろ」を書くこともあり、その苦い経験が、後に生きろプロジェクトにドネーションを導入するきっかけとなった。ある日、生きろの人はダトーガ族とのコラボレーションを試みた。彼はパントマイムをして「生きろ」を書き、彼らは伝統的な儀式を行った。それはまるで魂の交換のようだった。

Exhibition Style of "IKIRO"

The exhibition “IKIRO Factory” was held in a former traditional Kimono factory. The atmosphere of the exhibition was calm and IKIRO man only used natural daylight for the installation. He stood by the desk and kept writing IKIRO quietly. The IKIRO papers that he had written in many countries were installed on the floor. This installation became the basic style of the IKIRO project. Visitors were able to stay at a cafe in the factory and read books about IKIRO project. Since this exhibition the donation system has been combined with the project.

「生きろ」の展示スタイル

京都の西陣の織物工場跡で開催された展覧会。1997~1999年までにアジアやアフリカを旅しながら書いた「生きろ」の紙を束にして床に並べ、生きろの人はそこで「生きろ」を静かに書き続けた。この時のインスターレーションが「生きろ」プロジェクトのその後の展示の基本形となる。会場にはカフェも設営され、生きろプロジェクトの旅日記も読むことが出来た。

IKIRO at Kröller-Müller Museum & sonsbeek

IKIRO at Kröller-Müller Museum / April - September 2001 / "IKIRO/Be alive" - A group exhibition of Japanese artists / Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, the Netherlands / 15mx17mx4m / Soil, Sheets of Rice Paper, Japanese Ink, Potato, The Artist / Photo by Yuko Tanaka
IKIRO at Sonsbeek 9 / July - September 2001 / "Locus Focus" Sonsbeek 9 - International Group Exhibition / Arnhem, Holland / Video Monitor, Sheets of Rice Paper, The Artist / Photo by Yuko Tanaka

Perform at the Dream Place

IKIRO man is a big fan of Van Gogh. He even wrote a letter to Van Gogh in his dialy. He was so happy to be able to write “IKIRO” at Kröller-Müller Museum, which is famous for Van Gogh collection. IKIRO man wrote “IKIRO” like sowing seeds. Ha had special valuable experience from the 6 month long performance at the museum and the communication with the people.
IKIRO man also performed near the museum at the opening of Sonbeek 9, which was curated by Jan Hoet. Performing inside a shopping mall was a completely different from performing in a museum, and he enjoyed it.

憧れの場所でパフォーマンス

生きろの人はゴッホに宛てた手紙を書くほどの大のゴッホファンで、ゴッホのコレクションで有名なクレーラー・ミュラー美術館で「生きろ」が書けることにこの上ない喜びを感じた。生きろの人は種を蒔くように「生きろ」を書いた。美術館での６ヶ月にも及ぶパフォーマンス、そこで出逢った人々とのコミュニケーションから得たものは大きく、貴重な経験となった。
また、生きろの人は、美術館の近くでヤン・フートがキュレーションしたSonbeek 9のオープニングでパフォーマンスも行なった。ショッピングモール内でのパフォーマンスは、美術館でのパフォーマンスとは全く異なる経験で彼はそれを楽しんだ。

With Power of the Space

Sometimes IKIRO project is held at former factory. The city of Genk was famous for the coalmine before they closed it. The exhibition was held for the one hundredth anniversary of the first successful coal digging in this town. The exhibition took place inside the former coal main factory. Takahiro used a huge storage room, called the “Magazijn” with a size of 30 meters by 80 meters, for his installation. He covered the floor with sand. He placed the IKIRO papers on burned wood. These natural materials symbolize the cycle of life and the return to the earth.
The second Exhibition was held at Volklingr Steel factory, which was the biggest steel factory in Germany. Now it is a UNESCO site. Takahiro traced the history of this factory. He used the red soil of Luxemburg and coal of Volklingr to make IKIRO on the grand. These were the exact same materials that people used in the factory to produce steel. Takahiro stayed there for 10 days to make the installation. After Takahiro left the space, people could step on the installation so that the 2 colors of IKIRO would be mixed together little by little. This process stood for making no border between the countries. Volklingr was sometimes part of France and sometimes part of Germany throughout its history.

場所の持つ力と共に

時々「生きろ」プロジェクトを工場跡地で展示することがある。昔、炭鉱として栄えた街ベルギーのゲンク。そこで開かれた展覧会で生きろの人は「生きろ」と書いた。広い会場に砂を敷き、その上に炭の板と「生きろ」の紙を置いた。全てのものは地に帰る。「生きろ」を書きながら生きろの人はそう感じた。人が歩くと足跡が残り、また別の人がその上を歩くと新しく足型が砂に描かれた。
今は稼働せずユネスコに登録されたフォルクリンゲン製鉄所は、かつてドイツで一番巨大な製鉄所だった。また製鉄所のある土地は、歴史上ドイツ領とフランス領を行き来した場所でもある。生きろの人は、製鉄所がかつて使っていた鉄の原料と石炭を使い地面に「生きろ」と書いた。その上を人々が歩くと２色の「生きろ」が混じり合っていった。

Live in History

This exhibition was held at Kuenstlerhaus Bethanien GmbH Studio 1, which was used as a chapel before. Takahiro performed writing IKIRO and exhibited an installation with sheets of IKIRO paper, a big IKIRO painting made from the soil of Bethanien, IKIRO drawings, photos of the IKIRO project. He also showed a video of 1970’s Bethanien and photos of 160 years Bethanien history. There was an interview video of Michael Haerdter (the former director of Kuenstlerhaus Bethanien) and Dietlinde Peters (a member of Kreuzberg Museum) at the exhibition. Takahiro were also in the international studio program of Kuenstlerhaus Bethanien for one year.

歴史の中に生きる

生きろの人はベルリンのクンストラーハウス・ベタニエンのアーティスト・イン・レジデンスで滞在制作を行った後、同じ建物の昔チャペルがあった場所で展覧会を行った。中央にはベタニエンの敷地から取った土を使い描いた5m×4mの「生きろ」ペインティングを、向かって右には「生きろ」15年間の歴史、左にはベタニエン160年の歴史を展示した。

Express in Nature

There were three IKIRO Museums in the world. The first museum was in Osaka. The second one was at Theaterhasu Mitte in Berlin, and the last one was in Schuesshof. The IKIRO Museum in Schuesshof was surrounded by a lot of nature. This picturesque place was an ideal for an IKIRO Museum. It is located at a seminar house, organized by Takahiro’s friends Gerd Barnewitz and Cristina Biaggi B. The IKIRO project was dedicated to nature in Schluesshof for a special exhibition. In order to leave a message for the future, Takahiro sank IKIRO ceramic works made by the technic of primitive age. Takahiro also made a big IKIRO sign on the field.

自然の中で表現する

ベルリンの北に位置するリューヘンにあるセミナーハウスのオーナー Gerd Barnewitz ＆ Cristina Biaggi B によって特別企画された展覧会。会場には生きろ美術館もあり生きろの人はそこで「生きろ」を書いた。草原には草を刈って「生きろ」を作り、縄文焼きで作った「生きろ」のオブジェはパフォーマンスで湖に沈めた。

Encounter & Collaboration

It was held in a former factory. Takahiro made a big ship shape with the material he found in the factory. He hung IKIRO papers in the ship and put the marks of “SEI “, which is a part of IKIRO letters on the ground with straw. Mick O’Shea is a visual/sound artist whose collaboration with Takahiro took the form of a non-verbal conversation where the vocabulary element was the amplified writing of IKIRO and sampled sounds taken from the space and the local environment. The manipulated sounds were played back into the space and improvised so sound and writing are in dialogue.

出会いと、コラボレーション

生きろの人はアイルランドのコークという街で船形をした「生きろ」の作品を作った。船の天井には「生きろ」の紙が吊るされ、船の周りはワラで作った「生」の文字で覆われた。コークは港町で知られるコーブからも近く、箱舟に見立てたこの作品に人々が集まり、生きろの人は地元のノイズ・ミュージシャン、Mick O’Sheaと共にパフォーマンスを行った。床に敷かれたキャンバスの上に生きろの人はピートモスを使い全身で「生きろ」を描いた。船の帆をイメージした「生きろ」ペインティングは乾燥した後、会場に飾られた。

Message for Future

Takahiro did a workshop and held an event with 100 children, teachers and staff at a former orphanage in Gorzow in Poland. Each balloon had colorful IKIRO signs and a one-word message written by each child. On a signal from Takahiro 100 balloons flew in the sky at the same time. Children gave shouts of joy. This experience gave him a new feeling for the IKIRO Project. He thought everyone could share the energy of the word IKIRO with this kind of workshop.

未来へのメッセージ

ポーランドのゴーゼフという街にある元孤児院だった建物を使い行ったプロジェクト。生きろの人は100人の子供達とワークショップを行い、彼らと一緒に「生きろ」エコバルーンを空に飛ばした。それぞれの子供が色を塗った「生きろ」バルーンにはそれぞれの子供が書いた未来へのメッセージが書かれていた。

In the Limited Time

Time doesn’t stop, and all things are impermanent. Where did we come from? Where are we going? IKIRO man keeps writing the word “IKIRO” and expresses himself with “IKIRO” through his life. It is not religion it might be art. He does write the word “IKIRO” at least as a human being who lives on this planet.

限られた時間の中で

時間は止まることを知らず、全てのものは変化し続ける。我々はどこから来て、どこへ向かっているのだろう？生きろの人は人生を通し「生きろ」を書き続け、「生きろ」で彼自身を表現する。それは宗教ではない、もしかしたら、それはアートなのかもしれない。少なくとも、彼はこの星に生きるひとりの人間として「生きろ」と書く。