The Hojoki Shiki in 2018: Spatial designs of 10 square feet and their development
Deadline: December 25, 2017
Judges
Hiroshi Hara (Architect), Ryue Nishizawa (Architect), Fram Kitagawa (General Director, Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale)
The 7th Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale will be held from July 29 to September 17, 2018. As a part of this, The Hojoki Shiki in 2018―Spatial designs of 10 square feet and their development exhibition will be launched in the Triennale’s main facility, the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, KINARE.
Since its inception in 2000, Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, devoted to its overreaching concept that “Humans are part of nature”, has taken place to revitalize the ageing, depopulated, rural region by getting the most out of the ability of art to discover features of the land and the festivities that art has by nature. At a time when the paradigms of modernity have yielded problems that can no longer be ignored, Echigo-Tsumari’s site-specific art, struggling with the fetters of homogenization and globalization, has explored the relations between the earth and human beings, and received increasing attention within and beyond Japan.
The “Hojoki” (An Account of My Hut or A Ten Foot Square Hut) is a collection of essays written in 1212 by Kamo no Chomei, a poet and recluse in the Middle ages. He willingly lived in a 10-foot square (“hojo”) hut amidst continuing disasters such as earthquakes, fires, and famines, from which he observed, considered and recorded the world. The “Hojoki” is an architectural theory relating to localism and the “hojo” hut is the archetype of Japanese architecture.
The Hojoki Shiki in 2018 exhibition is the starting point of a long-term initiative of “Echigo-Tsumari Hojo Village” in the central area of Tokamachi City. This initiative aims to revitalize the area through embedding 50 to 100 small spaces of different functions into the existing buildings (empty houses and shops, etc.) .
The exhibition will show a variety of sectional, mobile, small architectural spaces. They will be displayed in the Kinare corridors, where people can experience a virtual “village” in full size. (When they are realized in the city area, they should be redesigned and adapted to the exhibiting buildings.)
With Chomei’s worldview as the backdrop, diverse works that reflect the world and allow you to see it from small spaces through the perspectives of architects and artists, will be on display here.
Each small architectural space has different functions connected to real life: (1) dwelling, (2) office, (3) shop, (4) dining (restaurant, café, etc), (5) atelier/studio, (6) others. For each space, partners/collaborators will be involved to fulfill the functions. The acts of dwelling, working, trading, eating, making, and so on will create a spark, and the cooperation and livelihoods will be incorporated into the vision of “Hojo Village.”
We look forward to receiving inspiring and innovative ideas and proposals.
Application form
After paying the submission fee in advance, please send the documents for submission as set out in the application guidelines.
Deadline
Applications must arrive by 5pm on December 25 (Japan local time). Hand delivery will not be accepted.
Inquiries, submissions
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale Executive Committee The Hojoki Shiki in 2018 Secretariat
c/o Tokamachi Tourism Association, 251-17 Asahi-cho, Tokamachi City, Niigata, 948-0079, Japan
F +81 (0)25 757 2285 / info [at] echigo-tsumari.jp
