It was only a week or so after my father died that I went to this prestigious project in Japan. I felt like cancelling it due to still being in mourning but I had cancelled so many jobs because of my father's illness I really needed to get my life back on some sort of track as soon as I could. Going to Japan was something I had always wanted to do and since I had already done all the preparing, with work visas and tickets being bought I didn't want to go cancelling on such short notice, it would have been difficult for the organisers to get a replacement. I also knew that my father would have wanted me to go.
The project in Japan is very select with around 17 sculptors from many different counties coming together to make a yearly exhibition based on different themes. This year the theme was South America and it would be open for the paying public for a full year until just one month before the next exhibition was to open. We would have 12 days to work some magic and turn the sand into the new show.
The house of the rising sun
This is a very special place for sand sculpture. It is a purpose-built sand sculpture museum and is the only one in the world. It is run as a business with all money going to the city council. Around 250.000 people visit each year and so they want the best and treat the sculptors like superstars, This is a big source of income for the local economy. I was honoured that I could slip in the door and create a piece.
Located in Tottori, it is beside a beach with some of the biggest sand dunes I have ever seen and a very special silty sand.
The sand from the beach is wonderful and they had brought some of it to the museum when it was built which is then carved each year. The locals are very involved in the exhibition with many of the older locals assisting during the project. These guys are pensioners but you should see how fit and healthy they are. Every grain of sand that is not a sculpture was quickly whisked away as they buzzed around like busy bees. We could focus on the sculpture while all the hard work was done by these guys.
Impressions of Japan
This is such a beautiful country, its people, its nature and landscape are just so magical. When I arrived it was still quite cold and dull in colour. The bus took us each morning to work and I was surprised by how many forests and natural landscapes there were. The bus drove through some hills on the first morning and all the greenery was so nice. On the second morning, I saw my first Sakura/ Cherry blossom. Like a white pixel in a sea of green. The next morning there were two and the next, many more. Like pink fireworks going off all around me. Soon the whole city and hinterland were invaded by these fairytale trees. So beautiful but, also short-lived. Before I left the petals had fallen creating a pink carpet in Tottori city.
It was so nice to go for walks and just admire the city. Everything was so clean and pretty. We on the other hand were always covered in silt and sand.
yum yum
Every meal was tasty and eventful, we never knew what we would be served up to eat. Each night we ate in a different restaurant. I love Japanese food, especially sushi. Luckily, there was lots of that and many other things which I didn't even ask what they were. I just popped it in my mouth and was greeted with a taste sensation.
The above photo is of some sort of mushroom so take your mind out of the gutter.
Blander Control
Interestingly my favourite thing about Japan was the toilets. Sorry Sushi, samurai and Sony. Going to the toilet was like taking control on the bridge of the Enterprise. So many buttons to press for different functions. Some toilets had heating controls for the seat. A sound system to cover up the plopping sounds. Smelly sprays to cover up your stench and different water jets like your bottom was going through a car wash. There would be no more Klingons on the starboard side, these jets would wash you clean.
I don't understand why these toilets have not taken off in the rest of the world. They seem much more Ecofriendly, fun and may I say borderline erotic.
Where was I ?
Oh yeh, I was there to make a sculpture.
Even though I had sent some examples of my work to the organiser I was surprised at what I was given to make. The design of the overall project is made by Katsuhiko Chaen or Katsu for short. He is a cool guy that I have known for many years. Each piece he sketches out and so there is not much room for diverging from the design as it needs to fit in with the overall narrative of the exhibition.
Even though I knew Katsu was familiar with my work he gave me the architecture of South America to do. If you have been reading my blog for a while you will know that I hate architecture. Those bloody straight lines make me crazy. But, I was the new guy and as this was my first time I was happy to try to make the best buildings I had ever done.
Maybe this was like that scene in the Karate kid where Mr. Miyagi gets Daniel Son to wash his cars. Wax on Wax off. No complaining, this could lead to greater things.
In the sketch were buildings I was not familiar with. Maybe if you know them you can name them down in the comments for a little prize.
I was happy enough with how it came together but will admit that I missed being able to be freer in my approach. The only part I had freedom with was the sky and I really savoured that.
The two towers at the centre were really pushing this beach sand to it limits. Standing at over 2 meters tall these would not have been possible in any other beach sand that I have worked with but in Tottoris I could just about get away with it. When I saw cracks appear in them I had to be very careful and make them slowly enlarge to the base. I still think they were amazing, as architecture goes.
It was a lot of fun to be there and even though my sculpture left me cold, as do all sandcastles I was happy that at least now I can say I did some OK architecture, once. Mr. Miyagi also seemed happy with my work which for me was the most important thing if I had any hope of ever returning to this nice project again.
Ps
Thanks for reading. I use PeakD to document my work as an ephemeral Sculptor of sand, snow and ice, amongst other things. This will hopefully give it a new life on the Hive Blockchain. Below you will find some of my recent posts.
Manmade nature - cement sculpture
Iglu-Dorf Under The Sea - snow sculpture (part 2)
Iglu-Dorf Under The Sea - snow sculpture (part 1)
I hope you'll join me again soon
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I am also starting to create NFTs of my sculptures and welcome you to my gallery where you can own a bit of ephemeral sculpture history.