Metasequoia: An exhibition in Osaka introducing the bar for art
Interviewed and written by Sophia Toyoda Swain
Defined by Oxford Languages, ‘visual art’ is creative art that is optically appreciated , notable examples being paintings, sculptures, film and photography. There is an element of physicality to visual art, where depending on a variety of factors, allows for it to be displayed in diverse locations. Instead of interpreting “art” in common forms, such as a mural behind a building, or a photograph in a coffee shop, ,”art” is deemed by many as only worthy of praise and/or recognition when it has a sense of exclusivity, and is located in a high end gallery or museum.. This stereotype of high quality art dissuades people from going and seeking out art and artists since it is widely considered as an “expensive” or “high profile” activity in Japan. Here
in Osaka, art lives, but does not thrive as it should, as it is not as accessible as one would wish for it to be.. Excluding numerous museums, finding spaces that showcase art can be a challenging task, especially for foreigners residing in the city. That is why Metasequoia, an art fair held here in Osaka, has taken action in order to become a leading project in changing the way people perceive the art world in Osaka.
We had the opportunity to interview Junko Sasanuki, an art curator and one of the organizers of Metasequoia, in order to learn more about what Metasequoia is and what she envisions for art in Osaka. As we sat in ‘Witty Supplement’, a designer office space and one of the venues where the project was being held, we began the interview.
What sparked the idea to create Metasequoia?
“It’s kind of a long story. Another main organizer of Metasequoia, Mr.Taniguchi, the owner of Chignitta, established an international art fair called “UNKNOWN ASIA'' in 2015. I worked on it as well but he and I left after the organizers changed. He moved to this community (Kyomachibori area) two years ago, at the time I worked with him to establish a new art gallery and a new creative community here. Then, we didn’t have an idea about the area. This area is a charming location with good cafes, restaurants, and a beautiful park. We found that there are so many creators in this area, it's kind of like a creative district. We felt like this area is full of design, but only art was missing. We wanted to create an art fair that brought art to the community but kept it accessible to the public.” - Sasanuki
Main organizers of Metasequoia: Junko Sasanuki, Yoshihiro Taniguchi, Aya Shimohara
As we continued the interview, it became clear that Sasanuki’s goal, in addition to increasing accessibility for experiencing art, is also to create a network for artists to connect and possible collaborations with those in different fields of work.
How Metasequoia Works
What is interesting about each venue is what the space is currently occupied with. One is a restaurant, one is a cafe, one is an architect studio etc.. To make the fair accessible and break down the stereotypes of high-end galleries, Sasanuki and the other coordinators of Metasequoia chose office spaces, restaurants, and shops to present the participants' artwork.
The Experience
Metasequoia was an experience filled with stimulating conversation, vivid artwork, and unique spaces. With the display of paintings, ceramics, wire art, and drawings, there was an extraordinary array of work. In the venue location, ZIZO, a creative production company’s office, there were three live paintings taking place, all in vastly diverse styles. Taking your shoes off before entering the room, you could sit around on the padded floor observing the three artists creating masterpieces in real time.
A couple of streets away from ZIZO was JIKAN, a rentable space for art, design, music, and food, run by the company JIKAN Design. Within this facility was a garden of glass blown “radioactive” fungi and bugs. Reiichi Namatame, the creator of this exhibition, is originally from Fukushima, the location of three nuclear reactor failures in 2011 after the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. While speaking with Namatame, he explained that his work was an expression of anger and loss due to the radioactivity in his home city, making it an unsafe living environment and destroying many ecosystems in the area. As one of 39 artists, there are copious amounts of stories behind each creator's work and Metasequoia was an event that allowed people to share their stories with those already interested in listening.
How do you predict art will evolve in Osaka in the next 10 years?
“It is getting better as of now, I think it will continue to. I hope people will be able to access art more freely, or more easily. Nowadays, anybody can be an artist, or be creative, especially with the help of technology. Many people can even take photos and post on Instagram and call themselves a photographer. Art does not mean painting or making collages, art is a kind of technology to express beautiful things.”
Her hope is that with events like Metasequoia, artists will expand and build their communities through networking and a desire for art, creating more opportunities for people to see their artwork.
The DECK internship students: Olivia Snyder , Sophia Swain Toyoda, Junko Sasanuki, Yoshihiro Taniguchi, Aya Shimohara, Tomokazu Morisawa, CEO of TheDECK
The DECK’s Community
The DECK is a space that consistently houses unique and talented individuals. As people use our coworking space, private offices, or the Fabrication Lab, there is a continuous flow of new and creative ideas. Creating connections with the art industry is just one of the many ways that The DECK hopes to support various people including artists, and creators.
During your time in Osaka and at The DECK, feel more than free to ask us any questions regarding events in the local area, no matter the area of interest including art. The community coordinators at The DECK will do their best to connect you with memorable experiences.
