去年採訪了位於鹿兒島的身心障礙人士中心SHOBU，至今偶爾仍會想起那不可思議的地方。因為各種原因而被送來托負的人們，沒有被限制行動，也沒被交予任何能「貢獻社會」的、千篇一律的工作。在SHOUBU內，他們都自由自在，用眼前的材料，做著自己喜歡的事，或雕陶，或刺繡，成品無拘無束，自由奔放，每一件都流露教人暢快舒爽的特質。
SHOBU多年來，在日本各地舉辦過無數次院友的作品展，原本只是社福機構的SHOBU，近年正式成為了日本認可的藝術機構。這對SHOBU來說意義重大，一直以來，他們辦展覽時，都不以「身心障礙人士作品」為賣點，不希望院友的身體特徵影響了人們對作品的評價，能夠正式成為藝術團體，算是他們努力後的重要成果。
SHOBU於12月12日將走進位於東京南青山的藝廊Dee’s Hall，舉辦名為 「12月，7隻紅貓及Nui50的⋯⋯聖誕快樂」展覽。SHOBU裡其中一個院友，將自己製作的所有作品都稱為貓，說貓非貓，但她統統都看成貓。這次展覽，將展出她製作的七隻貓，還有五十件滿布院友活躍跳脫的刺繡的襯衫。歡迎來到SHOBU思想天開的世界。
Ever since I made a visit last year to SHOBU — a facility in Kagoshima for disabled people — I keep thinking what a miraculous place it is. People who entered the facility for various reasons were not confined from moving around, or be assigned with repetitive tasks so as to be “useful” to the society. In SHOUBU, the residents are free to use all the available materials for their artworks like pottery or embroidery. Their works appear so liberal and joyful that they can even bring comfort to the viewers.
For many years, SHOBU has been holding multiple exhibitions all around Japan to showcase the works made by the residents. Founded as a social welfare institute, SHOBU has recently been recognized by the government of Japan as an art institute. This status means a lot to SHOBU, especially when their exhibitions are often marketed as works created by the disabled. It has always been SHOBU’s ambition to see the public appreciating their arts without prejudice or association with their physical states. Therefore, gaining the title as an art institute is absolutely encouraging for the facility.
From 12th December, SHOBU will host an exhibition in a gallery called Dee’s Hall in Tokyo Minamiaoyama. Titled December, Seven Red Cats, and Nui50’s… Merry Christmas, the exhibition will showcase a series of work made by a resident of SHOBU who calls all her works “cats”. Be it cats or not cats, she simply sees everything as cats. In this exhibition, visitors can see the seven “cats” she made, along with fifty pieces of playfully embroidered shirts made by other residents. Welcome to the magical world of SHOBU!
