Report: Artist Talk with Isamu Krieger
Isamu Krieger, an artist in residence with S-AIR and ICC, had an Artist Talk at OYOYO in Chuou-ku of Sapporo on February 2nd.
Isamu is a half Swiss half Japanese modern artist working mainly in and around Europe. His artistic palette is diverse, ranging from social and environmental themes to playful installments featuring audience participation.
In his Artist Talk, Isamu introduced his work and spoke about a project he plans to carry out in Sapporo involving a snow installation.
One past installation involved an entire wall covered by a drawing of a bookshelf filled with books. People attending the show could fill in titles of books they liked on the wall. On the left side of the photo is a local policeman.
“In anything there is a coexistence of the positive and the negative. You can make something light or dark, simply by choosing how to think about it. I want to emphasize with my work that it may not be the best to pick a side, but to stand between the two,” he said, leaving a lasting impression with all who attended.
Later, Isamu spoke with audience members, other Hokkaido artists, and college students about his work.
Countless houses were destroyed after their inhabitants were forcefully told to leave. The light shining through symbolizes hope.
“The crystal ball shows the devastating future of a destroyed city. To progress toward this image or to stop it from becoming reality is our decision,” said Isamu with conviction.
