Workshop to be held in the Tohoku coastal area. The 6th installment is Minamisanriku Town!
After the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person workshops resumed last year. This year, we will once again visit various locations across Japan, focusing on the Tohoku region, to engage in direct dialogue with people we meet in each area and listen to their diverse thoughts and feelings.
On Friday, September 22, 2023, a time-setting workshop for the "Sea of Time - Tohoku" project will be held at "Minamisanriku 311 Memorial" in Minamisanriku Town, Motoyoshi District, Miyagi Prefecture.
"Minamisanriku 311 Memorial" is a facility that aims to pass on the experience and memories of the earthquake to future generations through exhibitions of testimonial videos documenting the experiences of local residents affected by the disaster. A distinctive feature is its "Learning Program," where visitors engage in dialogue about disaster prevention, considering "how they would think and act if they were there." Additionally, the facility is dedicated to transmitting memories through art and expression, including a permanent exhibition of Christian Boltanski's work "MEMORIAL" and Masashi Asada's photo series "Minna de Minamisanriku" which captures the lives of Minamisanriku residents.
This place, which values and fosters human dialogue and imagination, will be the venue for this workshop.
Through the time-setting workshop, why not take your time to reflect on your thoughts about Tohoku and the preciousness of each life, engaging in dialogue with Tatsuo Miyajima, your family, friends, or other participants?
We look forward to your participation.
Event Overview
Date and Time
Friday, September 22, 2023, 18:00 - 19:30
*Applications are now closed as the capacity has been reached.
Venue
Minamisanriku 311 Memorial Learning Theater (200-1 Itsukachō, Shizugawa, Minamisanriku-cho, Motoyoshi-gun, Miyagi Prefecture 986-0752)
Capacity
Approx. 40 people
*Applications will close once the capacity is reached.
Participation Fee
Free
Eligibility
Anyone who supports the project's objectives is welcome to participate, from young children to adults.
*Participation is limited to once per person. Those who have previously set times for this project are not eligible to participate.
How to Participate
Pre-registration required
How to Apply
Please fill out the required information on the web application form and submit it.
*Personal information collected will be strictly managed by the secretariat and used only for the operation and guidance of this project.
Organizers
"Sea of Time - Tohoku" Project Executive Committee, Minamisanriku 311 Memorial, General Incorporated Association Minamisanriku Town Tourism Association
What is the "Sea of Time - Tohoku" Project?
Based on the concepts of "It keeps changing," "It connects with everything," and "It lasts forever," contemporary artist Tatsuo Miyajima, known for his works using digital counters, created this art project with the wish to commemorate the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, pass on the memories of the disaster, and collectively build the future of Tohoku. It is a collaborative effort with people living in Tohoku and those who have a deep connection to the region.
The artwork, envisioned as a colossal pool with 3,000 digital counters displaying "9-1," is created through the involvement of 3,000 individuals. Each participant sets the speed at which the LED numbers count down to their desired time. Since 2016, workshops have been held primarily in Tohoku and across Japan, engaging participants, and the project continues its activities with the goal of completing the artwork in 2027.
As of July 25, 2023, the number of participants has reached 2,284.
What is "Sea of Time - Tohoku" Time Setting?
Each of the 3,000 LED numbers in "Sea of Time - Tohoku" counts down at a different speed.
In "Time Setting," participants can set the speed at which the numbers 9, 8, 7, 6, etc., change to their desired seconds (from 0.2 seconds to 120.0 seconds).
The LED numbers count down from "9" to "1," then "0" is not displayed, the light goes dark, and then returns to "9," repeating this cycle. This blinking of numbers symbolizes the perpetuity of life.
This workshop is an interactive session where Tatsuo Miyajima and participants share the time setting in seconds and episodes related to the Great East Japan Earthquake.
As artists of this project, participants entrust their thoughts to a single LED through time setting, and these individual contributions coalesce to form one grand artwork.
Workshop Flow
-
Explanation of the "Sea of Time - Tohoku" project's background and purpose by Tatsuo Miyajima
He will discuss the project's history and the artist's intentions behind the work. -
Time Setting
Participants will write down their chosen time setting number and the thoughts behind that number or their feelings for Tohoku on a form. -
Dialogue time with Tatsuo Miyajima, project staff, and other participants
Based on the content of the forms, numbers and episodes will be shared. -
Listening to and sharing others' thoughts
Numbers and episodes will be shared with all participants.
*Sharing of time setting numbers and episodes is optional, for those who consent.
*Measures will be taken against COVID-19 to ensure a safe and secure operating environment. However, there is a possibility of postponement or cancellation depending on the spread of the infection.
*Content may be subject to change.
Contact
"Sea of Time - Tohoku" Project Executive Committee Secretariat (within Tatsuo Miyajima Office Co., Ltd.)
TEL: 0297-21-7650
E-mail: contact@archive2023.seaoftime.org
