On February 1^st, artist Chen Hangfeng invited by ICC and S-AIR held a talk along with Shujiro Murayama at CAI02 in Central Sapporo.

Chen Hangfeng – Born 1974, resides in Shanghai

Graphics, drawing, paper cutout, installation, sculpture, photography, video, and performance are all part of Hangfeng’s repertoire of expressing his art. His playful and metaphorical style incorporates topics like commercialism, environmentalism, and changing cultures. Hangfeng is a future hopeful in the Chinese art world. He will be in Sapporo until mid-March.

Chen Hangfeng (left) and translator/S-AIR staff Kyoko Tachibana (right)


Series piece “Logomania” If you look closely you can see that this piece is composed of many famous logos from around the world. Using the traditional paper cutout technique from China, Hangfeng created this piece as a warning to modern society – traditional culture is being lost to branding.


This is part of a performance he gave in Luxembourg during an artist in residency program. Made-in-China products in hand, he created the image of ‘Senjukannon.’

A talk by artist Shujiro Murayama followed.
Murayama was in Sapporo until the end of February as part of an artist exchange program. He was with a company in Tokyo called 3331 Arts Chiyoda. From Sapporo, painter Shino Hisano went to Tokyo and is currently working on his art there.

Shujiro Murayama – Born 1969 in Tokyo, resides in Kanagawa

Murayama graduated from Tokyo University of Arts, department of painting. After teaching at an art research facility in Tokyo, he started doctorate studies at his university. Attracted to the fragile beauty of plant life, he creates artwork in line with his concept of connecting people and nature, as well as promoting community involvement in that area.

He calls this technique, using plants to directly rub color onto a surface, “Ryokuga” or “green painting.”


This Ryokuga gradually changes color as time passes.


This is part of a movement he has started called the “yellow flowerpot project for happiness.” Old flowerpots are painted yellow before plants are potted and placed around town.

An installation using yellow flowerpots

He also started a movement he calls “Shoku meguri” in which he visits plant life in the city. This is a shot from such a visit.

After the talk, the audience was given an opportunity to meet the artists and exchange ideas. These two artists will release their new work at the “Snow Scape Moere 6” art event at Moerenuma Park, Sapporo.

Hangfeng’s wife Rebecca Catching is a curator of Shanghai art galleries. She had been in Sapporo visiting her husband during the talk, so she joined the event and shared the latest information on young artists in Shanghai.

ICC resident Kuriki Nobukazu won the Faust of The Year award on December 2nd from the Faust A.G. Awards 2010 held at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Tokyo.

Faust A.G. is a new kind of gentlemen’s club that promotes activities along the themes of adventure, challenge, and community service. Since it was established, their internal publication and public website has introduced adventurers, challengers and social activists to the world. The “Faust A.G. Awards” recognizes members that give people hope and encourage them to pursue their dreams. The award’s goal is to promote sports, culture, and adventure for the general public in an inspirational way.

At this year’s Faust A.G. Awards, Kuriki was chosen out of many qualified candidates to receive the award.

Kuriki said, “There are many other great alpinists and all the candidates have accomplished something worthy of receiving this award. I feel honored to be recognized in such talented company. The first time I left home to make a solo ascent up Mt.McKinley my father said, ‘I believe in you,’ which has stayed with me to this day. The bigger the challenge, the more fun it is. I think it’s important to never give up and keep challenging yourself. I will attempt Mt.Everest again next year!”
 

-Other Award Winners-

- Faust of The Year
Connecting the world by “sharing adventure” – a new type of alpinist
Award Winner: Nobukazu Kuriki

-Faust Adventurer of The Year
Captain of a “sail craft” that glides over the ocean at 56.3 knots (64.8 mph)
Award Winner: Alain Thebault

-Faust Challenger of The Year
A business man that runs the most brutal marathon in the world
Award Winner: Takeshi Akasaka

-Faust Social Contributer of The Year
The man that “never gives up” brings courage and hope to the chair walker
Award Winner: Hirokazu Nagaya

-Faust Special Prize
Marine adventurer and pride of Japan – a man that continues to provide astonishment and wonder to the world
Award Winner: Kenichi Horie

-Just Giving Special Prize
Changing positions from a donator to a fundraiser, the first man in Japan to start his own fundraising campaign as a personal challenge
Award Winner: Atsuya Furuta

The Above award winners received a trophie and prize. Both were valuable and rare, worthy of Faust award winners.

The trophies were made by a leader in the art of glass making, Ryoji Shibuya. He designed the trophies with an image of the earth, blue ocean, and clear sky that these adventurers challenge and explore. The additional prize for Faust of The Year was a Talisman Collection by De Beers. This piece of modern jewelry incorporated diamonds in the rough.
 

We all look forward to seeing Kuriki’s future acomplishments.
ICC wholeheartedly supports his Mt.Everest challenge next year.
Those of you who would like to support Kuriki, please join Team Kuriki at the URL below.

Team Kuriki Application: http://kurikiyama.jp/teamkuriki.html
 

 

June 18th to June 20th was an "Open Studio" night with two artists, Patavee Viranuvat and Steve Carr - two artists who were invited to Sapporo for an artist in residency program hosted by ICC, NPO S-AIR, and the Japan Foundation. Their Open Studio showcased the work they created during their stay in Japan. Over 100 people visited in three days.


Steve (left) and Patavee (right) as they give an opening welcome.

New Zealand modern artist Steve Carr produced work titled "The Weight of the Sun." His theme, 'The artificial and the real,' was central to creating his pieces, which he commissioned a Hokkaido sculptor, photographer, and videographer for. The studio was lined with wooden baseball gloves, badminton birdies, photos featuring Steve himself, and bonsai style video and artificial flower arrangements.

"I want people to see my work and ask, 'what is this? What is he trying to say?' I want them to think of a lot of questions," says Steve.


Steve holds a badminton birdie in his mouth. With a closer look, you can see that each are subtly different.


Steve communicated his idea to a sculptor in Asahikawa to create these wooden gloves (left). Badminton birdies (right)


In the foreground you can see the flowers that look like bonsai.

Thai video artist Patavee Viranuvat created pieces along his theme 'mother and child.' Interviewing parents and children in Sapporo as well as Thai women that had to leave their children in their home country to work in Hokkaido, Patavee created a documentary called "Cheers to Mom!" The documentary weaves together the hopes and fears mothers have for their children with the feelings of appreciation children have for their mothers.


Patavee's retro-looking installation reminds one of the Showa era. His family photos were also mixed in.

A screening in the fourth floor hall followed the opening party. The entrance to the hall was very memorable.
Patavee turned the entrance into a tunnel that reminded one of being in the womb. Photos of babies in the womb, babies still connected by the umbilical cord, and other works relating to birth lined the walls. The audience walked through this tunnel - a baby being born - into the hall for the screening.


The tunnel had a mystical feeling that reminded one of being born.

Through the tunnel comes the story of life.


Patavee sang a song about his mother before beginning the screening.。


Some things are hard to say face-to-face, but no one in this documentary held back their true feelings about their mothers or children.

Following the close of the Open Studio, Steve says, "It was a great experience focusing solely on producing artwork for two months. Also, to have worked with so many talented artists here in Hokkaido was an amazing experience. Even if we can't understand each other's language, there's no need for such a thing if we can 'see and feel' art together."

Patavee says, "Time flew. At the first screening, I found out that the audience felt the same way I do about the connection of parent and child. Even though we are from different countries and cultures, that feeling will always be the same."

Everybody together after the screening


Patavee treated everyone to his homemade tom yum goong after the party.

 
 The 63rd Cannes International Film Festivalwas held recently, and on the 23^rd of June, Apichatpong Weerasethakul won the Palme d’Or, the highest prize given at Cannes, for his directorial piece “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.”

Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul was invited from Thailand by S-Air to Sapporo in 2001.

At the time, he held a workshop as part of his residency. Take a look at his comments from 10 years ago. This year, artists from New Zealand and Thailand have been invited to Sapporo for the program. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for us.

Kotaro Hachinohe is an artist known for his calligraphy work in the modern art scene of New York. This Sapporo native and London artist was the guest for the event "Artistic Circumstances Workshop Vol.0," held on February 19th at ICC Café.

Over 100 attendees packed the room while Kotaro spoke about his field. What is artist support, and what role do they play in companies? Only an experienced artist active in the modern field could answer these questions.

At the live performance following the talk, a CG camera was attached to Kotaro's brush to create a projected image of what he was writing onto a wall.

Rehearsing

The live performance took place at the ICC entrance hall.

It was as if the brush were alive. 

The brush's point of view.

The completed piece from the live performance.

Kotaro's brushwork inspired the audience with both subtle and bold characteristics. The Sapporo native provided many artists and art fans alike with blend of information and catharsis.

The event titled “ICC Festival 2010 in TOKYO” took place at Uchida Yoko in Tokyo on March 5th. The ICC Festival is an annual business-matching event held by ICC to bring businesses and artists together.

Over 70 guests attended the event to hear six groups of Sapporo artists give presentations. The opening event welcomed Takahashi Meijin, known for his famous 16 shot per second speed with video games in the 80’s, as a guest. He spoke about what sort of content will be passed down through the generations, and what is needed to PR creative content. Later, Takahashi Meijin’s eternal rival, “Mister X,” joined the mix for more excitement.

Mister X (left) and Takahashi Meijin (center)

Presentations followed the opening event. Masaki Kagajo coupled visuals and sound in his performance which involved new ideas for teaching material.

Stage performer Masaki Kagajo

The next presentation was by Vas Inc., a company that developed a cell phone system that would tell you a bus's exact location and a monitoring system for children on their route to school. They attached GPS's to bicycles and had them ride around the venue to simulate how the system would work

Vas Inc. provides various services incorporating information technology.

Tamas showed their character license for a character that was born from a desk top icon on a computer called "KOLME."

Tamas design of KOLME was used as a PR character for the Hokkaido bullet train.

Beggar Swindle Inc. arrived on stage with cute characters dressed in costumes. They presented material relating to these characters called "Koakkuma and Akkuma."

Beggar Swindle produced a cute character loosely based off of a mischievous devil.

Director Wataru Hayakawa proposes a feature film about the heart-warming connection between a young Ainu genius and Ryosuke Kindaichi. Hayakawa, known for his film "The Wall Man," insists Masato Sakai play the role of Ryosuke Kindaichi.

Wataru Hayakawa calls for producers and production partners.

New Peak Film Inc. shoots and edits in 4K, a format that contains four times the amount of pixels as HD material.

The audience gets a closer look at the 4K footage on display by New Peak Film.

The audience was taken by storm during the presentations by the six groups of artists. If you happen to be one of the many people who's interest was peaked by these artists, please contact us here.

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.

On January 7th, ICC supporter resident and tax accountant Daisuke Nagata, with the Administrative Scrivener Office, held a seminar. About fifteen creators from ICC looking to start a business participated. They learned about the businesses in Japan that receive grant funding, financing facilities, and any personal questions they may have about their businesses.

ICC Chief Coordinator Kubo gives an introduction.
Participants take detailed notes.

Nine types of grants were discussed at the seminar. Content, timing, and number of hired employees all affect the amount of money awarded in a grant. Every bit of the seminar proved valuable for participants looking to start their own businesses. As Nagata put it, "grant policies often overlooked in newspaper articles" can really help these kinds of entrepreneurs.

Nagata answers each personal question with care.
Nishimura explains each point in detail.

ICC plans to hold more of these valuable seminars in the future.

We first visited Portland's city hall and met the mayor and other members of the city. Especially because it was the 50th anniversary of our sister city relationship, we were greeted with a warm welcome and tour of the city.
 

The screening of "Sapporo Anime Shorts" took place on December 6th at 16:30 at the NW Film Center. The audience of 100 included many children thanks to the fact that the screening consisted of a series of animated short films.

First, Toshiya Kubo, producer of the SAPPORO Short Fest, introduced each of the seven short films before they were screened.
The audience seemed quiet at first, but the comedic pieces brought out the laughter. Many young people were looking at flyers at the entrance to the venue, showing that these films do in fact spark the interest of the younger generation.
 

SAPPORO Short Fest's role isn't only that of entertainment. It also serves as an event for cultural and economic exchange, serving Sapporo city and promoting it to the world
 

On December 11th, the third creative meeting “Sho Ishiguro – An eighteen-day exploration of New York” took place at the ICC Café Plus.

Ishiguro is a visual artist and dancer. He kept a record while spending 18 days in New York observing art. He went to feel the difference in art and design that the immigrants of the Big Apple created on a daily basis. He says as a result he felt the response to art in New York was very different compared to Japan, including street performance. In New York, art was part of people’s daily lives.

A report that took place right after a dance. Still catching his breath.

The subway ticket booths had a stark look.

A captive audience.

The report began with a live performance of a dance that was performed in New York, and then continued on to a visual presentation of his works and New York.

A subway window with a bullet hole in it, a mirror with a scribble that says “McDonalds toilet”, the bright neon signs of Times Square, new buildings built on top of old buildings… these were all sights that expressed New York in a way art museums can’t.

His largest surprise and most heartfelt moment was when he learnt that there was no set entrance fee to the Metropolitan Museum. The attitude to art was so that people are encouraged to come as many times as they want for ten cents or ten dollars. Ishiguro decided to enter with a fee of one dollar.

He said he performed as a dancer in a fashion show as well, finding opportunities to interact with the lively city that is New York. His smile was vibrant as he talked about New York, displaying all of the energy he had absorbed from his trip.

Later, ICC resident Akihito Yamamoto, with Harebare Shashin, and S-AIR's Fuyuka Shindo reported on their experiences in Thailand. They invited some Ainu people to join them in visiting several tribes in there. Traveling to the depths of mountains and seeing new ways of living, their interest never seemed to end. Each tribe showed their dances and rituals to other tribes, a true display of non-verbal communication between cultures.

(left) Shindo with S-AIR. She travels all over Japan researching apples and salmon, as well as tribes around the world. (right) Yamamoto with Harebare Shashin. His beautiful photos make it hard to believe they were taken with a digital camera.

An umbrella made out of banana peals. It looks perfect.

A woman's tribal dress.

This creative meeting featured New York and Thailand, plenty to satisfy the creative palette of the entire audience.

A dance session with friends. Dance is another form of expression.

 

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On November 25, an event announcing the results of the "ICC+SIC Workshop 2009", which was held on July 3-5 this year, took place at the Aurora Square in the underground shopping area, Aurora Town. The theme of the workshop was "communication and broadening of Sapporo's creativity."

The Sapporo City Mayor announced the idea for “Sapporo Ideas City” in March of 2006. Since then, much effort has been put into encouraging creativity in the city, but a pervading issue has been that there has been little visibility to the residents of Sapporo.

This workshop was held with the intention of solving this problem. As part of public relations, ideas were presented to newspaper companies, television stations, and the Sapporo city government, culminating in this event, which welcomed 43 students and 14 creators.
 

In announcing the results, the participating students pointed out to the newspaper companies, television stations, and Sapporo city what the creative resources of Sapporo city are and suggested ways of spreading these resources through panel displays so that they could reach audiences more directly.

The group that presented ideas to the newspaper companies suggested continual communication with a wide range of people. They urged the need to create a whirlpool of newspaper, mobile, online, and digital signage that would sweep people in.
 

For newspaper companies, four forms of media were presented: newspaper, mobile, online, and digital signage.

The group that presented ideas to the television stations suggested that they synchronize TV and the web. They also suggested having citizens submit their ideas for Sapporo’s creative resources and produce commercials and television shows, creating a larger movement.

Television stations received the idea of synchronizing the television and Internet.

The group that presented ideas to the Sapporo city government proposed a concept of “creation, connection, and expansion.” By combining individual creative resources, they said, unique stories could be created.
One such idea was to use the theme song of “Godzilla,” written by Akira Ifukube, who has ties to Sapporo, as the song that plays at subway stations when trains arrive or depart. Other ideas included putting designs of creative resources on Sapporo city trash bags, holding a concert at Kitara with music created by “Hatsune Miku,” a piece of software developed in Sapporo that alters voices.
 

For Sapporo City, students suggested using the theme song from “Godzilla” in the subway stations.

 
A city of creativity can only be achieved if Sapporo becomes motivated.
We wish for more projects similar to this one to take place in the future and bring about more creativity in Sapporo.
The panel display was on display until November 30th in the Aurora Square of the underground Aurora Town.

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On Tuesday, November 24th at 7pm, a presentation of a workshop sponsored by Sapporo City University and ICC called “Hybrid Media” took place at the Uchida Yoko Ubiquitous Network Plaza, u-cala. Sapporo City University Assistant Professor Nina Fischer and Maroan el Sani planned the workshop that was presented at this event. The 17 student participants announced the results of their four-day effort. To see more on the workshop, click here.

From left, translator Tachibana, thiemedia lecturers John and Marcus, and Nina and Maroan.

thismedia John (above) and Marcus (below)

The presentation began with a documentary video chronicling the 19 days of lecture and 4 days of workshop. The entire film was produced and edited by students.

What is Hybrid Media? The participants are eager to learn

Presentations then split up in two groups. The first group was immersed in an environment in which visuals react to sounds. Sounds were split into high, mid, and low frequencies so that visuals would move while reacting differently depending on the sound.

Making a low frequency sound. Not an easy task.
A low frequency sound makes the person on screen left start walking. The mid frequency sound makes an image move on the right.

They used MAX to input detailed data.

Sound Creator Oguro. Thank you for your hard work!

The second group used hair dryers that reacted to changing visuals. Responding to images, the dryers would switch on and off.

When the gingko leaf floating on top of the water is moved, so does the image projected onto the screen.

Reacting to the leaf, the dryers on the ground would turn on. The installation was made to mimic a flowing river.

In the beginning of the workshop, most participants had no knowledge or experience, but the common interest everyone had inspired them to make this presentation as successful as it was.

The lecturers look serious.

Participants learned the process of creating protocol (new media language) through the workshop. They stepped into the world of hybrid media where all forms of media combine to create something new.

While participants and lecturers exchanged ideas and impressions at the after party, two questions always emerged: What can be created, and what will that creation accomplish? The answers are infinite. 

 

 

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On October 29, a talk session called Organic Design by interior design unit "Shirokuro" took place at the ICC Cafeplus. This event was part of Sapporo Design Week 2009. Going with the theme of "Organic", this talk focused on design and agriculture.

Interior design unit "Shirokuro". Shiro is above and Kuro is below. This event came about because Kuro's family works in agriculture.

The panelists may work in different fields, but they all have similar outlooks on life. That is to say, they are all proactively involved in being organic: An architect who bought two goats to become a farmer, a food meister presenting the benefits of being organic to heighten the quality of food in northern Japan, a photographer that communicates the added value of being organic through their work, and a leader in agriculture that has opened the door to the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms organization.

Harukichi Organic Farm representative Takuya Kobayashi. After studying environmental science in college, he began organic farming when he was 24. "I want our generation in their 20's and 30's to see how important organic farming is to raising a family."


GreenHandsGreenHands representative Ayumi Omiya met organic farming in New Zealand when she was in her 20's. "We are all life forms supported by the sun. It's important that we follow nature's pattern because we rely so heavily on it."


アトリエ AG PLANNINGGoya Ogata with AG Planning is an architect who wants to become a farmer. "I bought two goats this year. I'm half architect and half farmer. I'd like to design every aspect of my life including the food, clothing, and living space."


Photographer Makoto Miyazaki. "I began a project with creators, planners, and farmers. I joined today to hear different opinions on being organic."


ICC Chief Coordinator Toshiya Kubo has the experience of working for the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (Zenno) for eight years.

Sapporo Design Week Chairman Mr. Yamagishi gave his opinion on different packages and problems he could see in plans presented. The talk session became an opportunity for improvement both from an agricultural and design standpoint. The discussion continued into the networking event following the panel, becoming a place for active exchange of opinions.

 

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