A Genealogy of Extraordinary Ideas Within Tradition

—The Tokiwabashi Tower Art Collection

KANAZAWA Kodama (Code-a-Machine)

A collection of eighteen artworks will be installed in the Tokiwabashi Tower, which stands right next to the Tokyo Station in an area that used to be the main entrance to the Edo Castle. For me, this project connects the time of the Edo period to the present and the future, and it is a space for the perspectives of the world looking into Japan to intersect with those from within Japan.

To connect the historical context with the future, we have consciously selected artists who are exploring new expressions using traditional materials and techniques, such as ceramics, bamboo, lacquer, and Japanese painting. The collection also consists of several works that incorporate geometric patterns to achieve continuity with the building design, which includes motifs inspired by Edo Kiriko, a traditional form of cut glass from the Edo period. Based on the East Asian tradition of contemplation, the collection also includes works that use natural materials and motifs that remind us of the power of nature. The inclusion of these works also expresses our wish to achieve a sustainable society.

In line with the future-oriented concept of the Tokiwabashi Project, many of the artists selected in this collection are in their 40s and younger. The collection also includes works from five overseas artists, creating a sense of global perspective while advocating themes that have affinity with Japanese culture.

The most glamorous and fantastical elements of Japanese culture serve as unique focal points within the building’s serene architectural space. Reds, blues, magentas, light yellows, young greens, golds and silvers—these are the eccentric and intense color schemes found in Kabuki, local festivals throughout Japan, shrines and temples, and in the ubiquitous electric towns and shopping arcades found in cities. This color palette will help us expand our imagination to worlds and dimensions beyond our own.

This art collection is a powerful expression of the deep layers of history and culture, the ever-changing flow of time and future forecasts, and the interplay between Japan and the world at Tokiwabashi.

(Translation: Nuance Translation)

＜The work commentary contributed by Kanazawa to the TOKYO TORCH website＞

A Genealogy of Extraordinary Ideas Within Tradition —The Tokiwabashi Tower Art Collection-1

Tokiwabashi and Japanese Culture—The Tokiwabashi Tower Art Collection-2

The Sustainable Vision—The Tokiwabashi Tower Art Collection-3

Architecture and Art, What’s the Best Collaboration?—The Tokiwabashi Tower Art Collection-4

For One’s Everyday Life–The Tokiwabashi Tower Art Collection-5