#1 of 12
January has come to an end. From now on, at the beginning of each month I'm going to look back on what has been going on. I spent a laid back New Years in my hometown, Miyakonojo in Miyazaki. Then I came back to Tokyo, and ever since I've been getting ready for a live TV broadcast coming up March. In my spare time I visited China to film the "LOMO LC-A+" factory built by Lomography, and then interviewed Lomographers in Shanghai and covered the opening of the LOMO shop in Hong Kong, the first of its kind in Asia. Kenji put this story proposal together, but he was busy with another project so I went on my own. The people and cities were bursting with energy in China, a country I was visiting for the first time. I'd like to present this project at some point this year.

At the end of the month I went to Okinawa with Kenji to cover the Kaina Art Festival vol. 5. It's not that big, but the festival is a place where creators from all over Okinawa gather and present works that deal with their own ideas. In Japan, I think it's the festival that's most on my own wavelength. Jiyuu sousaku hyougensha -- my close friends, mentors from school, and rivals - participate in the festival every year. In a total departure from their previous work, which I could always count on for a laugh, this new piece is an incredibly fantastic visual poem that really grabs you, like your heart has stopped. I've seen their new territory. I can't go into detail here, but I'll write more in April or May. Don't miss it!

* We're covered in these blogs:
Tomoyosetsukasa blog "(c)Tsutapro"
Ebino Keiko blog "Zassou Takoraisu"

AAL Artist File in Berlin
We've introduced 4 art spaces as part of the Berlin trip. Now we're going to take a look at artists that we've encountered gone to meet.

The first up is DEAD CHICKENS. They're long-time friends with Nomura, our coordinator. When she told me about them, I checked out their works online. My initial reaction to their work was "old." But Nomura respects them for having created artworks for some twenty years at a distance from the "snob" art scene. In other words, somehow they've been able to make it as artists without becoming "snobified." This means there's some kind of infrastructure, and leads to a kind of "urban critique". I'd deemed their work as "old" without any inkling of the context. I was at once humbled and ashamed of my ignorance, and with a change in my perspective, I saw their appeal. It was a moment when I realized the need to learn about art and local history.

And when I met them, I got goose bumps. Their presence and their artworks were simply overwhelming. By the way, they established Schwarzenberg, introduced in AAL019. Their works were on the premises. Check out that trip - you'll get a better understanding of them, and also the city of Berlin.

Nakano, Tokyo
Uda introduced me to Suso Akiko, milliner and illustrator. One evening I visited her studio in Nakano, Tokyo.

The door opened, and before me was an adorable girl who looked nice in glasses (Suso, forgive me for saying this!), like a character right out of Suso's pictures. It was Suso herself.It was our first meeting, but we had lots to talk about, including our mutual friend Udo, Hungarian cloth and embroidery, her upcoming visit to see Tachinoko Kagura performed in Miyazaki, my hometown, as part of a group that visits old tomb sites for the journal "4-10" that she publishes in.

I was feeling totally pressed by work when we met, but strangely I got a huge jolt of energy from our conversation. And as I write about her energy, I realize that I hardly heard anything about her creations!... But maybe the visit to old tomb sites counts as work?

I was greeted by monsters created from silicon and iron. DEAD CHICKENS's artistry comes through in their quirky and lovable taste, profundity, and the structural sensibility that underlies their detailed creations.

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I thought the music was great, as to be expected. If only they could come to Japan so everyone could hear them...

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Their studio is housed in two buildings of a former factory in the outskirts of East Berlin. One of the buildings displays their works, and the other serves as a workshop. It has a lot of atmosphere.

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DEAD CHICKENS began in 1986. Hannes and Breeda talk about the transformation from a punk band to monster theater. Their tranquility is really nice.

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About production and group members. His stories made the city of Berlin come alive before my eyes.

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Where to next? Breeda is really charming.

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Bonus footage. Chatting. Drinking beer together after the shoot. Haphazardly shot.

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At Long Last, Our Berlin Trip
It's been a while since our last post. I was busy from mid-November to December with work and was unable to update the website, but at long last, I can finally show you our trip to Berlin in September. Please see my diary posts back then to see the places I went to, and the people I met. Click here for the Berlin diary!
The strongest impression I got from Berlin was the enormous number of galleries, ateliers and art spaces. I reckon that Tokyo pales in comparison regarding the square meter of art space per citizen. There are also a lot of constructions sites, and the whole city was emitting a strange buzz. Today, I will introduce some new faces on either side of the River Spree, as well as a summertime-only open-air club that has popped up in an open field.

Guest: Guy in charge of the board in Kasukabe
The very first guest of our Berlin series is Mr. Sueda, who I held deep discussions with every day during ARS Electronica 2003, and is appearing on AAL for the first time. I really like Mr. Sueda and his partner Mr. Ishii's "Communication Grill/ Changu-tei". In fact, I'm a pretty big fan. For information about this piece, please go to Mr. Sueda's website from the guest page.
I conducted this interview at night, while drinking in a bar, due to my hectic schedule. However, as the place was too noisy, we ended up going to a park in Ochanomizu, near Kandamyoujin. I had recorded about half of the interview in the brisk evening breeze, when my laptop ran out of battery! Under such terrible circumstances, Mr. Sueda kindly re-did the interview in a caf_ in Ochanomizu the next day. I'm glad he seemed to enjoy it though.

A sculpture made of glass and bricks. It looks light, as if floating on the water...

Radicalsystem V is a new art space along the River Spree that runs through the center of Berlin. It's a remodeled and expanded 19th century drainage factory. According to the coordinator, Nomura, this area around Haltzmarkt street is gaining hype as a new art scene.

Radicalsystem opened on September 9th, and we were able to report on the opening party. Apparently the event was much anticipated because the organizer is the husband of dance choreographer, Sasha Waltz, not that I know much about it. Sasha danced at the opening, but unfortunately it had already ended by the time we went... a shame. The space was very comfortable, with high ceilings and a deck facing the River Spree, and people would listen to the music lying down.

The city of Berlin really does have a lot of galleries and art spaces. The reason why this building in particular is gaining attention is because it’s all privately owned. Focusing on sound art and performances, the venue will be involved in everything from the production through to the release of artwork.

Radialsystem
Address:Holzmarktstr. 3310243 Berlin
Di - So, 12.00 - 19.00 Uhr
http://www.radialsystem.de/

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I spoke briefly to one of the directors, Folkert Uhde. What is so different about Radicalsystem, which stands in the center of Berlin?

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After arriving in Berlin from Austria, we visited Kubik that night. Kubik is an open-air club that utilizes vacant land. It's only open for 2 months during mid-July to mid-September, so it's closed right now. Please go if it's open next year.

Kubik
Address : Kopenicker strasse 36 Berlin
http://www.kubikberlin.de/
* Currently closed. Please check again next summer.

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The three girls of Kubik, reminiscent of the three Charlie's Angels. Although the three are quite different, they are equally cute. They planned the Kubik project together, organizing the architects and lighting designers to bring it to completion. They're also at the bar. I reckon the beer tastes especially good here because they're always standing there, in the shining angular space.

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Swallowing Berlin's Past and Present: Schwarzenberg and DEAD CHICKENS
The 4th Berlin art space is Schwarzenberg. This graffiti-ridden, dirty building is in the oh-so-fashionable Mitte (central) district. Apparently this area was full of ruins immediately after the fall of the Berlin wall, but in 10 years, it has metamorphosed into a fashionable district with galleries and small boutiques. In other words, Mitte has become quite a boring place as a result of this.

However, Schwarzenberg art space is the only thing that remains in the snobby new Mitte, and symbolizes the hope of young artists. Once you step foot in the property, I feel like I've traveled through time and space from the present Mitte, and slipped into the "real" Mitte, probably because of the walls that surround the building. This area was originally a Jewish district. The former hideout for Jews during the war has now become a place that harbors the future of young, unknown artists in the center of Berlin.

Schwarzenberg was established by DEAD CHICKENS, the most rock "n" roll artist I've ever met. The Chickens and their work are characterized by red-hot passion. This passionate soul also resides in this building, among which their work is displayed throughout.

Next session, we'll be introducing the symbols of Berlin, Dead Chickens, and their atelier, so look out!

　* I have written about the Chickens in a report last year.
　　→ARS ELECTRONICA & Berlin 2006 Report

In Kamakura
Mr. Kuwakubo introduced us to the first female guest in a long while - video editor Atsuko Uda. Although I had met her once through work, it was almost like we were meeting for the first time. We recorded the interview in Kamakura, where Ms. Uda resides, but my Powerbook went into sleep mode after 10 minutes! (maybe it was too cold?). This was at a Starbucks in front of the Kamakura City Council, and we had to walk around for another caf - that would lend us a wall socket. Ms. Uda, thank you for putting up with all this.

I remember experiencing Ms. Uda's "Hands-on Movie". The system doesn't involve any automatic interactive interventions, and yet touching the screen and seeing the picture change after a while, I found myself wondering whether it's a pre-conceived image. I felt a little confused, but this confusion synchronized with the static that ran through my fingers as I touched the panel, leaving me with a fresh impression of the work. Also, I'm very fond of Ms. Uda’s voice.

Henryk, the guy who most looks like Gary Oldman in Berlin, takes us through this smoky space. Henryk also does the publicity for DEAD CHICKENS. First, take a look at this infamous piece by KAI and Hannes.

vorstand (representative): Henryk Weiffenbach

Haus Schwarzenberg
Rosenthaler Strasse 39
10178 Berlin

Tel. 030. 30 87 25 73
Fax 030. 282 90 33
info@haus-schwarzenberg.org
http://www.haus-schwarzenberg.org/

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The origin of Schwarzenberg, and the reason for CHICKENS' fame, is this fancy cocktail bar. The rockin' CHICKENS have gone all the way with the luscious interior designs. The monsters are unbelievably awesome.

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Neuro Titan is a place that harbors talents of the new generation. Strictly speaking, the shop next to the gallery is more of an art space to present one's known and unknown creativity, rather than a shop. Lastly, we will introduce a bag that is functional in a certain way. The only disappointment is that the gallery was under preparation when we went. But next time I go to Berlin, I will definitely go to this space to breathe its air, regardless of whether it's open or closed. I'd like to slowly enjoy the thoughts and places of the creators, and the living, breathing artworks.

→http://www.neurotitan.de/

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Happy New Year

Prediction: This Year's Encounters

Artists in their 30s with a mental age of 13 and whose brain you'd want to examine, artists with beautiful, pure eyes who spend their entire savings on art projects and are always in debt, honest artists who only think and talk about girls, logically consistent and organized festivals, totally disorganized new festivals carried out by passionate and energetic staff, souls burning out, creative sweats on the other side of one's body, the grey crescent moon-like bags under one’s eyes, blue skies that link the whole wide world, various luscious lifestyles in front of our very eyes.

Kenji Ogawa will continually search for those imaginary horizons through the camera's viewfinder, and press the REC button in sync with the breaths of buildings and people. And when he presses the OFF button, we reporters hope that we will feel elated. We’d like to excel further this year in sharing our precious experiences with you.

And we'd also like to become more well-known. After all, it's our 2nd year.
Perhaps this is our most important goal.
We look forward to sharing another year with you.

Live in Berlin, Create in Berlin
In former East Berlin, many art spaces reuse old buildings. Radicalsystem, which we introduced in AAL016, is a remodeled and expanded water drainage factory. The communal atelier artist space, in which many artists and people working in art-related jobs own ateliers, is renown in united Berlin. ATELIERHAUS MENGERZEILE、Milchhof, etc. I don’t remember clearly but I had heard many of their names.

There are many reasons why artists flock to Berlin, but I sensed that it might be the anything-goes, avant-garde atmosphere that attracts them. So far we've been introducing places and buildings, but now we will show you artists who I'm sure you've never heard of.

By the way, apparently Berlin's population is decreasing right now, meaning lower land prices. Thus, it's easier to obtain a spacious atelier in the heart of the city at a low price. This is a very strange phenomenon for a country bumpkin like myself, who only knows the very expensive Tokyo. Anyway, I think that Berlin is the coolest place _ cooler than Paris, London, Rotterdam, and Barcelona. Those of you who live or have been to Berlin, you know what I'm talking about, right!

Guest: The Circle of Friends Resurrects!
The circle of friends was at a standstill after AAL011:sonar guest, Hitoshi Taguchi from Grinder-man. But at last, it's starting again! Today's guest is artist Ryota Kuwakubo, an older friend of Mr. Taguchi during university. Mr. Kuwakubo's pieces are always beautifully finished, and I love the way that there's always something exciting about their structure. Plus, I've known him through the program Digital Stadium, so it was a coincidental and familiar encounter. We were able to have a very relaxed conversation to start the year off. Great.

I really like the fact that Mr. Kuwakubo is soft-spoken and mumbles, but he's always making subtle jokes and trying to make you laugh. He's at it again this time too.

KUNSTFABRIK is at the very edge of former East Berlin. Back then, it also served as part of the wall. The creators here are a mixed bag from Asian countries including Japan and China, America, and various European countries. The rent is 5-6 Euros (800-900 yen) per 1 square meter, including energy bills. If there's a space available, I'd definitely recommend it.

Joel, in charge of publicity, takes us around in the video. Please enjoy the miniature tour of the atelier.

1:navigator: Joe l Verwimp
2:artist: Alexander Di Vasos

Buro der Kunstfabrik
Am Flutgraben 3 - 12435 Berlin
Mo-Mi 11-14 Uhr
fon: +49 30 5321-9658
fax: +49 30 5321-1570
info [ett] kunstfabrik [punkt] org → www.kunstfabrik.org/

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Berlin is filled with a friendly atmosphere that seems to welcome anyone and everyone. The design show, DESIGNMAI, is scheduled to be held this May, at KUNSTFABRIK. Please have a look if you're close to the venue.

1: Joerg Suermann
http://www.designmai-youngsters.com/

2:Salvador Cidras
　Vicente Blanco

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Last is a typically "Berlin" space. I remember that the air was crisp and cold inside, even though it was mid-afternoon in early September. The first ever checkout was March 1986, and the next was March 1991. The Berlin Wall fell on 9th November 1989.

Mr. Kuwakubo talked about the context that arises from reusing old buildings.

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The project leader Svenja talks about the "Letzte Uberprufung" ("Last Lookout") project, in which places and history intertwine.

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