'In Praise of Soils'

2023
Pearl Art Museum
Shanghai

Artists: SUGISAKI Haruna / SHAO Lei / XIE Wendi / SO Wing Po / Katja SCHENKER / SUZUKI Shinsaku

Curators: LI Dandan / MU Jun / IIJIMA Yoshitoki / Code-a-Machine (KANAZAWA Kodama + MASUI Shinichiro)
Exhibition Design: KUMO
Exhibition Coordinator: SUN Kathy (Pearl Art Museum)
Graphic Design: MIYAMOTO Toru / TAKANO Nao / SHIGA Yasuhiro
Translation: LIN Ye / YUAN Jing
Illustration: UYAMA Tsumugi

Curation/Planning
Writing

Rediscovering Soil and Rammed Earth: A Japan–China Collaborative Project Across Architecture, Art, and Science

This exhibition, which shed light on soils and rammed earth, was held at the Pearl Art Museum with the aim of reevaluating rammed earth, an environmentally and human-friendly architectural technique, within the context of contemporary society’s pursuit of sustainability. Through the collaboration of Japanese and Chinese experts, it offered a perspective that transcended the boundaries of art, architecture, design, and science. Code-a-Machine participated as part of the curatorial team, overseeing the overall structure and providing artistic depth. Kanazawa also developed a narrative scenario that positioned soil as the main character, weaving together the exhibition’s elements. The presentation featured five contemporary artists with diverse practices, including performance art, glass art, contemporary ceramics, and installations incorporating Chinese medicine.

(From the Opening Remarks of the Exhibition)

Houses made of rammed-earth walls are soundproof and quiet. They also regulate temperature and humidity so that air conditioning is unnecessary. When I first heard about this, I was fascinated by the concept of rammed earth and soil. I was reminded of the significance of living with the blessings of nature.

In curating this exhibition, I have used “soil” as a narrator to depict the story of the soil as something that existed before the formation of planet Earth and is still with us today, after a long time. We can see the great power of the soil to nurture and protect us.

We can also see the soil in various forms, not only as an object for human use. Six contemporary artists have been invited to fully expand our imagination about the soil.

Thus, this exhibition has a transcendental perspective, crossing architecture, science, and art.

As civilization develops and we face global climate change, many people are becoming more aware of sustainability. We hope that as you read the stories of the soil and travel through time, you will learn about the abundance of nature that we receive at present, and may we think together about a sustainable future.

KANANZAWA Kodama (Code-a-Machine)

Online Exhibition Tour: https://note.com/kodamakanazawa/n/n6455e9affb7b