An exhibit featuring Bikky Sunazawa titled “Enju” will take place at ICC from March 6th to the 8th.
We asked son of sculptor Sunazawa Bikky and host of this exhibit, Jin Sunazawa, tell us about this exhibit.
Bikky Sunazawa lives on in many people’s hearts.
The “Enju” exhibit, featuring Bikky Sunazawa, will be held on the 20th year since his passing, organized by Jin Sunazawa and a planning committee.
“While visiting different authors and comic book artists, many mentioned that they ‘would like to see Bikky’s work brought together in some coherent way’, so I decided to do just that,” says Sunazawa.
Sunazawa remarked, “The only person capable of expressing the feelings invested in his artwork would be someone close to him, so as his son, I thought I should be the one to do it.” It was this belief that led him to host the exhibit.
The theme, “Enju”, is “an expression of appreciation to all of those that supported Bikky and represents a hope to pass on “En”, or connection, to the next generation,” says Sunazawa.
This exhibit will undoubtedly become an opportunity for many to catch a glimpse of Bikky’s life and to meet new people.
Host of the “Enju” exhibit, Jin Sunazawa
Look, feel, and touch art
“My father always wanted his audience to ‘feel the work’, ‘move it’, and ‘participate’. He kept this in mind when he created art. This exhibit will be no exception to that style, so the audience will be able to touch the work on display.”
Sunazawa says, “I am interested to see how people unfamiliar with my father’s work will react.”
“As an artist, Bikky always sought out honest critique of his work. I decided not to mention the Ainu ties in this exhibit in order to prevent people from having preconceived notions of what the artwork may be like.”
Jin Sunazawa has opened and continues to maintain the Atellier Bikky website.
http://www.bikky-sunazawa.com/
Audience participation
“I’d like people unfamiliar with Bikky’s work to come and feel what he had to say.” There is also an option for attendees to participate in the gallery.
Sunazawa will create a replica of one of Bikky’s finest works titled “Juka”, with a little help from the public. Attendees can take pieces of wood and add them to the art piece, creating a new unique work of art.
In another event, attendees are encouraged to express their thoughts on the exhibit through drawing. Sunazawa hopes many elementary school students may participate in this event.
A snapshot of a previous exhibit in Kamakura and “Juka”
To help understand art
The Bikky exhibit “Enju” began in Kamakura, a place that left a strong impression with Bikky, continuing on to Sapporo, Otaru, Asahikawa and finally returning to Kanagawa prefecture.
“It is my impression that there aren’t many artists rooted in the Hokkaido area, and there are few companies focused on discovering and helping new artists. I hope this exhibit of a leader of the art scene in Hokkaido becomes a starting point for young artists to begin creating artwork together.”
The Kamakura exhibit
The inheritor of the “Bikky” legacy
From a young age, Sunazawa recalls painting and carving sculptures with his father. He inherited his father’s name, but that’s not all he wants to pass on. He aims at preserving his father’s unique artistic style, while also taking in new forms of expression, producing reliefs, pendants, and even carvings for gun stocks.
“What I do is very analog, but to spark interest I also think digital images are important. I’d like to get together with creative artists who specialize in the digital realm and branch out to the world from Hokkaido.”
Keep an eye on the inheritor of the Bikky name while he brings together talents and “En” with his art.
First, follow Bikky Sunazawa’s footprints from March 6th to the 8th at ICC.
One of Jin’s sculptures
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Jin Sunazawa (Atelier BIKKY)
http://www.bikky-sunazawa.com/
Bikky Sunazawa Special Exhibit “Enju”
When: March 6th (Fri) to March 8th (Sun)
Where: Sapporo City Digital Creative Plaza (Intercross Creative Center)
12 Cho-me 1-12, Toyohira 1-Jo, Sapporo City
Tel: (011) 817-8911
Entrance Fee: Free
Article by Eiichi Sato
Translation by David Neptune
