SHIGEAKI IWAI
Could you guide me around? 'Cause I'm just a tourist from Japan.
May - August 2001
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Iwai's project for
IASKA consists of three inter-related works:
The first work is a mail-art project. Shortly after his arrival Iwai produced
a series of 8 postcards of Kellerberrin and sent them to friends and colleagues
overseas. The postcards were intended to capture 'typical' aspects of
the locale seen through the eyes of an outsider from a very different
culture. The artist invited his international addressee to reply by writing
a short text that described their impressions of the town, of which they
knew only the single image reproduced on the postcard sent to them. Cards
and written comments were subsequently displayed side by side on the gallery
walls.
The second work is based on a series of meetings and conversations
between the artist and 20 town residents. Iwai met with the interviewees
- who varied in gender, race, class and age - in their own homes and invited
them to talk about their everyday lives. For the exhibition the artist
selected short excerpts form these conversations, printed them on pieces
of red cloth which he then laid over the chairs used by the interviewees
during their meetings with the artist. In the gallery the draped chairs
formed a circle in middle of the exhibition space, and this display was
complemented by a series of wall-mounted signs with short texts in which
the artist conveyed his impressions and feelings about his meetings with
the locals.
The exhibition is completed by a slide projection showing juxtaposed
photographic images of Kellerberrin and Tokyo.
The simplicity and directness of Shigeaki Iwai's work communicates a rich
complexity of meaning, In his exhibition the views and perceptions of
the local inhabitants are intersected with the fresh impressions of a
foreign visitor and the hypothetical constructions of distant interlocutors
for whom Kellerberrin is only of site of the imagination. Iwai's work
raises questions that address problems posed by cross-cultural dialogue
in a global society. His exhibition seems to also suggest that truths
- about places, communities and histories - are always the result the
process of exchange that involves the participation of different, voices,
perspectives and sensibilities.
Open Space Mentoring
Program
Three local artists collaborated with Shigeaki Iwai during his
residency. Follow the links below to access information about their work.
Phillip Gamblen
Brigitta Hupfel
Andrew Smith