Artistic Discovery at Echigo-Tsumari Art Field
Artistic Discovery at Echigo-Tsumari Art Field
“Humans are part of nature”. The original concept has become the overarching concept for all the programs offered in the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field. Echigo-Tsumari Art Field is not only to display artworks, but to remind you how precious our mother of nature truly is and show our great respect to nature. As our civilization and urbanization have far more advanced today, abundant nature in the “Satoyama” (undeveloped woodland) existence in Echigo-Tsumari is just spectacular.
The Echigo-Tsumari region has been cultivating its land for rice production under the harsh condition imposed by heavy snowfall since the Jomon era. Local people here have been exploring how to engage with the inseparable relationship between human beings and nature while managing the tight-knitted communities. This is the origin of the concept “human beings are part of nature”, which has become the overarching concept for every program. Regional development in the Echigo-Tsumari region is advanced with the aim to present a model for how people can relate to nature.
The abandoned house and closed school projects represent what the ETAT is about. Approximately 100 projects have been executed to revitalize the huge number of abandoned houses and pass on memories and wisdoms of the community for future generations. The closed schools which once functioned as places for bringing people in the community together now present many artworks and stand as key places in the community again. These projects have become an integrated part of the community and utilized beyond the conventional framework of artworks.
Anything that human beings have created are “art” and “art of living (art de vivre)” constitutes the origins of this concept. “Food” is its important element and the ETAT has been focusing its attention on “food” in the belief that it is the most primitive representation of art. “Food” plays a significant role of bringing local people into the spotlight.
The Echigo-Tsumari region has been cultivating its land for rice production under the harsh condition imposed by heavy snowfall since the Jomon era. Local people here have been exploring how to engage with the inseparable relationship between human beings and nature while managing the tight-knitted communities. This is the origin of the concept “human beings are part of nature”, which has become the overarching concept for every program. Regional development in the Echigo-Tsumari region is advanced with the aim to present a model for how people can relate to nature.
The abandoned house and closed school projects represent what the ETAT is about. Approximately 100 projects have been executed to revitalize the huge number of abandoned houses and pass on memories and wisdoms of the community for future generations. The closed schools which once functioned as places for bringing people in the community together now present many artworks and stand as key places in the community again. These projects have become an integrated part of the community and utilized beyond the conventional framework of artworks.
Anything that human beings have created are “art” and “art of living (art de vivre)” constitutes the origins of this concept. “Food” is its important element and the ETAT has been focusing its attention on “food” in the belief that it is the most primitive representation of art. “Food” plays a significant role of bringing local people into the spotlight.
“Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art” by Seizo Tashima (Photo by S. Akimoto)
“For Lots of Lost Windows” by Akiko Utsumi (Photo by T.Kuratani)
“Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art, KINARE” by Hiroshi Hara + Atelier Φ (Photo by Keizo Kioku)
“The Last Class” by Christian Boltanski＋Jean Kalman (Photo by T.Kuratani)
“Tunnel of Light” by Ma Yansong / MAD Architects (Photo by Osamu Nakamura)
Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Shokudo for Dining
“NOHBUTAI Snow-Land Agrarian Culture Center, Matsudai” by MVRDV
Echigo-Tsumari Art Field is located 50 minutes away from ryugon by car. We delightedly present you a private-escorted tour to the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field.
Please contact us for more information or a private-escorted tour arrangement.
Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Official Website: www.echigo-tsumari.jp/en/
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