Pix4Japan

2024-10-15

Air Burial

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“Air Burial”: Reflections of Tibetan Wisdom in Glass
「鳥葬」：チベット文化の叡智を映すガラス彫刻

American artist Roni Horn, renowned for her contemporary works in painting, photography, sculpture, and drawing, often draws inspiration from nature’s forces and their shifting interplay with our perceptions of objects and landscapes.

My photo captures autumn leaves reflected in a pool of water atop Horn’s glass sculpture, Air Burial. The cylindrical piece, measuring 131.4 cm tall (51 in.) and 142.2 cm in diameter (56 in.), was crafted through a process Horn developed in the 1990s, where molten glass is poured into a cast and set over months. The result is a translucent exterior and a transparent, almost liquid-like interior. The water collected on the surface creates two layers of reflection, merging nature and art.

The title, Air Burial, references the Tibetan funerary ritual commonly known as a “sky burial.” This practice reflects a deep understanding of life’s impermanence, with the body returned to nature to sustain other life—a sustainable tradition shaped by Tibet’s harsh environment. Horn once explained that she envisions her sculpture undergoing a similar organic transformation, gradually breaking down and merging with its surroundings, echoing the essence of the sky burial.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 10:17・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/800 sec. at ƒ/2.0
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Iron Tree

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Ai Weiwei’s “Iron Root”: Art Rooted in the Struggles of Uprooted Lives
アイウェイウェイの『鉄樹根』：根こそぎにされた人生を映し出す芸術

Ai Weiwei has been using trees as a powerful symbol in his art since 2009. His sculptures, often made of wood or iron, are like puzzles—crafted from pieces of trees he gathered from different parts of China. This idea was inspired by a tradition in Jingdezhen, where dried tree sections with intricate forms are sold as decorative pieces for the home, appreciated for their beauty and contemplative nature.

The sculpture in my photo is one of Ai’s iron tree trunks. At first glance, it looks like an old, weathered, dead tree trunk. But if you tap on it, you’ll realize it’s hollow and made of iron—a clever twist that adds an unexpected layer to the experience.

Ai Weiwei’s “Roots” series, which includes works like this, is about more than trees. It speaks to the idea of being “uprooted,” reflecting on global issues like the struggles of refugees, the destruction of Indigenous lands, and even Ai’s own experiences with displacement—both his arrests in China and his life after leaving the country.

For those unfamiliar, Ai Weiwei (b. 1957) is a world-renowned Chinese artist and activist. He’s known for creating sculptures, installations, films, and photographs that spark conversation and sometimes contention. His work often challenges authority, which has made him a controversial figure in China. After leaving the country in 2015, he’s lived in places like Germany, Portugal, and the UK.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 10:08・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/20 sec. at ƒ/4.5
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Adamo e Eva

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Adamo e Eva: Masaru Bando’s Bronze Compassion in Hakone
アダモとエヴァ：箱根に響く板東優の青銅の共感

This bronze sculpture, titled “Adamo e Eva” (Adam and Eve), was commissioned by the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan, in 1994. The artist, Masaru Bando (板東優), often begins his creative process by exploring the human condition and its emotional expressions.

The Pola Museum features 13 of Bando’s bronze sculptures, which range from abstract to figurative. These works vary significantly in size, from pieces small enough to fit in the palm of a hand to monumental installations requiring transportation by crane and truck.

On his website, Bando explains, “Many of my sculptures contain an underlying social-political concern. With traditional materials and timeless themes, I wish to portray the universal nature of contemporary situations.”

The sculpture I photographed, “Adamo e Eva,” reflects Bando’s deep compassion for those who suffered during the Siege of Sarajevo, a harrowing event that occurred during the Bosnian War (1992–1995).

Born in 1952 in Hokkaido, Japan, Bando began studying sculpture in Tokyo before pursuing further education in Rome, Italy, at the age of 22. His talent quickly gained recognition, and he started exhibiting his work in Italy and Paris. By the 1980s, Bando was creating commissioned pieces for museums, parks, and corporate facilities in Japan, the United States, and Korea.

Today, Bando divides his time between studios in New York and Japan. At the Pola Museum in Hakone, most of his larger works lean towards abstract figures, while others charm viewers with playful motifs of children or dogs.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 10:03・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/70 sec. at ƒ/4.5
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Light Odyssey

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Light Odyssey: Reflections in Glass and Nature
《Light Odyssey》: 光学ガラスが織りなす森の光と影

"Light Odyssey," created by SHIMURAbros, is a permanent installation at the Pola Art Museum in Hakone, Japan. This striking artwork, crafted from copper, stainless steel, and optical glass, offers a captivating interplay of light and reflection.

SHIMURAbros (シムラブロス) is an artistic duo comprised of Yuka Shimura (b. 1976) and her brother Kentaro Shimura (b. 1979), who hail from Yokohama—a city I now call home. They have gained recognition from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs and have exhibited their works in cities across the globe, including Tokyo, Singapore, Taipei, New York, Perth, and Vienna.

Regardless of the weather—whether it’s a bright, sunny day or an ethereal, foggy afternoon—Light Odyssey transforms its surroundings. The glass surfaces reflect brilliant patterns of light or cast moody, shadowy frames, offering an ever-changing and deeply satisfying visual experience.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 09:58・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/20 sec. at ƒ/4.5
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Japanese Cobra Lily

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Vibrant Reds of the Japanese Cobra Lily in Hakone’s Woodlands
「箱根の森で見つけたカントウマムシグサ（関東蝮草）」

The natural trail winding through the woodlands around the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan, offers visitors not only stunning outdoor sculptures but also a variety of fascinating flowering plants that thrive alongside the artworks.

In this shot, I captured the vibrant seed pod of a Japanese cobra lily (Arisaema serratum・関東蝮草). This woodland perennial, known for its striking appearance, is a hermaphroditic flowering plant that produces these vivid red berries between mid- and late summer.

One intriguing fact I learned about this plant is that its roots are highly toxic—and it relies on flies for pollination! As someone with little knowledge of botany, I was genuinely surprised to discover that even the much-maligned fly plays a vital role as a pollinator. Am I the only one who didn’t know this?

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 09:40・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/2.0
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Forest Bathing

Forest Bathing in Hakone: A Peaceful Moment with Dale-chan

「箱根で森林浴：愛犬との穏やかなひととき」

Growing up in landscapes of natural beauty—ranging from snowcapped mountains towering above the treeline to vast desert plains of sand and sagebrush, and canyons carved deep into the Earth’s crust—I took the calm serenity of nature for granted.

As I’ve grown older, however, the need to escape the sprawling concrete maze of Tokyo’s metropolitan area has become an essential prescription for my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

I recently learned there’s a term for this rejuvenating experience: “Forest Bathing,” or Shinrin-yoku (森林浴) in Japanese. This concept, embraced for decades, encourages immersion in nature to restore balance and harmony. To my surprise, it’s not just a Japanese practice—it’s recognized as a form of therapy and preventative care in countries like the U.S., Finland, South Korea, France, and the U.K.

In this photo, Dale-chan seems to capture the very essence of Forest Bathing. Resting contentedly on a rustic wooden bench along a nature trail near the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan, she is surrounded by lush greenery and dappled sunlight. Her peaceful expression reflects the serenity and joy that these natural surroundings provide—a reminder of the simple yet profound healing power of nature.

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 09:34・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 160 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation

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Blessed Dogs by Niu

Two black sculptures of frolicking dogs silhouetted against a bright, sunny morning. The sculptures are installed outdoors near a modern museum of concrete, glass, and steel, with large glass windows reflecting the artwork. Photographed in black and white.

Blessed Dogs by Niu: A Celebration of Joyful Motifs
ＮＩＵの世界観：箱根の作品『しあわせな犬』

The black sculpture, “Blessed Dogs,” by Niu, depicts two playful dogs leaping joyfully, their forms silhouetted against the sunlight. Installed at the Pola Museum in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, this artwork reflects the artist's focus on creating motifs that celebrate the happiness of animals, while the dogs' lively poses evoke a sense of freedom and connection with nature.

The artist Niu, born in 1972 in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, spent her early years in both Iwate and Saudi Arabia. At the age of 10, her family relocated to Tokyo, where she has lived ever since. She credits her grandmother, an accomplished artist, for nurturing her appreciation of painting and folk art during her childhood.

In 1994, Niu began a successful modeling career, appearing in magazines, advertisements, and on runways in fashion hubs such as Paris, Tokyo, and other Asian cities. Since 2002, she has showcased her talents as a multidisciplinary artist, presenting paintings, sculptures, installations, and photography. Her works often explore themes of nature, incorporating motifs of animals and plants.

Among her notable creations is the 2016 sculpture Blessed Dogs, which is displayed at the Pola Museum in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Accompanying this sculpture, Niu shares the following message:

“I hope that as many living things as possible can find freedom of mind and body and spend happy times—dogs, cats, wild animals, and humans alike.”

Location: Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 09:17・2024/10/15
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 500 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/8
Acros film simulation