Us, on the Mother Earth

Rei Naito

忘不了在豊島美術館內的感動。地面的水珠蠕動如生物,它們結合彼此便往地洞奔,回歸土裡。美術館關門時,職員將地面拭乾,翌日,水珠又自地下冒上來,生機源源不息。美術館內我們看見水、看見雲、看見風、看見陽光,看見自然的惠澤,藝術家內藤礼要我們感受自然有時溫柔,有時狂暴的力量,並重新認識到,自己在這力量之中,是怎樣的存在。

內藤礼的作品大都以「存在」的主題,探問著實實在在地生於大地之上的我們,與宇宙、自然、過去、未來、生與死之間,目不能見,耳不能聞,卻無法割捨的關係。如1991年發表的《地上に一つの場所を》(中譯:創造地上的一處場所)、2001年,於直島發表的《Kinza》等,在內藤禮創造的空間裡,觀者內在的精神世界被緩緩喚醒,由外在的體驗,延至身內在精神的體驗,觀賞過程的不可思議,筆墨難以形容。

七月末開始,內藤礼將在茨城的水戶藝術館舉行至今最大規模的展覽《內藤礼 ——明るい地上には あなたの姿が見える》(中譯:內藤礼 ——在光明的地上 看到你的身影),這次展覽將以光為主要元素,撒走展示室內的燈具,讓自然光成為室內的唯一光源。光是生命之源,在這空間內,我們將看見光,看見生命的源頭。

I can never forget the sensational moment in Teshima Art Museum. Droplets of water were crawling on the ground as if they were alive; when they finally merge together, they would rush to the hole on the ground hoping to return to the earth. After closing the museum for the day, the staff would wipe the floor dry, until drops of water seep from underground again the next day, like a vigorous cycle of life. In the museum, we had an encounter with water, cloud, wind, sunshine, and the generous gift from the Mother Nature. Rei Naito wanted to show to the viewers the tenderness of nature, as well as its fierce power, so as to provoke our thoughts to examine our existence among such a great power.

Existence is a recurrent theme of Naito’s works, for she would like to explore the inseparable connection human has with the universe, nature, the past, the future, the life, and the death, although these elements are never visible or audible. One Place on the Earth that was first exhibited in 1991 and Kinza that was exhibited in 2001 in Naoshima are examples of how Naito tried to wake up the inner mind of viewers through the space she constructed. Using physical experience as a bridge to connect to one’s inner mind was an unbelievably fascinating process which is beyond verbal description.

From the end of July, Rei Naito will have her biggest exhibition so far in Art Tower Mito of the Ibaraki prefecture. Her exhibition, titled ‘on this bright Earth I see you’, will use light as the key element. However, instead of artificial lighting, natural light would be the only source of light in the entire exhibition hall. Light is the origin of all being; in this space, we will see light and the origin of life.

Rei Naito: on this bright Earth I see you
Date: July 28 – October 8
Venue: Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
www.arttowermito.or.jp

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