Nara Machiya Arts Festival HANARART2020
Nara Machiya Arts Festival HANARART2020 is going on mainly in Imai-cho, Kashihara City, Nara from October 23 to November 9. Imai-cho originally developed as a town inside a temple called Jinaimachi, which is a self-governing community/area by a powerful temple (in this case, Shonenji Temple). And some plots are designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Machiya means a traditional townhouse.
It takes about 20-25minutes by car from Oyodo Town, where our old house is located.
Like many other art festivals/projects in Japan, Hanarart leverages vacant houses. But it apparently places more emphasis on matching support between former and would-be users. Its website says: "over the past nine years, the number of idle townhouses that have been utilized as shops and housing for immigrants has increased to 41 since the start of "HANARART"". For this target, the vacant houses are used as galleries, as opposed to some other festivals that use the whole houses as unremovable art works. In the latter case, it’s difficult to change how the house is used.
This year, the festival lasts about three weeks, consisting of the exhibitions, workshops, seminars, and a Sunday march (or a market). The curator for the Imai area is Ms. Chie UCHIDA, based in Nara, organizing events/activities to mutually introduce young Japanese and French artists to each other.
For artists invited and exhibitions, please see: https://hanarart.jp/2020/artist.html (English follows Japanese)
As for the festival, this year it was supposedly difficult to invite artists with diversified background. An ingenious attempt of the curator was to use original face masks as entrance tickets. The masks are produced by local residents in an eco-friendly way: natural materials and dyeing with vegetable dyes.
Aside from the festival, Imai-cho is a famous sightseeing area, so the street wasn’t deserted but with moderate traffic. the staff (probably the owner) of the café said the number of visitors was significantly decreased due to COVID-19, particularly the vanishment of large groups of visitors was a severe blow to shops and restaurants.
It takes about 20-25minutes by car from Oyodo Town, where our old house is located.
 |
| reconstruction model of Imai-cho |
HANARART
The annual festival started in 2011, celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. The prefectural government of Nara is one of the main organizers. Different cities within the prefecture serve as the festival’s main area every year, and the festival has some satellite venues outside the main areas.Like many other art festivals/projects in Japan, Hanarart leverages vacant houses. But it apparently places more emphasis on matching support between former and would-be users. Its website says: "over the past nine years, the number of idle townhouses that have been utilized as shops and housing for immigrants has increased to 41 since the start of "HANARART"". For this target, the vacant houses are used as galleries, as opposed to some other festivals that use the whole houses as unremovable art works. In the latter case, it’s difficult to change how the house is used.
 |
| venues |
For artists invited and exhibitions, please see: https://hanarart.jp/2020/artist.html (English follows Japanese)
COVID-19 AND ART FESTIVALS
Despite the heavy impact by COVID-19, events related to the arts and culture can be organized in the way the guideline permits, and not a few organizers managed to meet the guideline. That being said, the boarder enforcement measures are uphill challenges for international events. My hats off to organizers for their efforts and patience.As for the festival, this year it was supposedly difficult to invite artists with diversified background. An ingenious attempt of the curator was to use original face masks as entrance tickets. The masks are produced by local residents in an eco-friendly way: natural materials and dyeing with vegetable dyes.
Aside from the festival, Imai-cho is a famous sightseeing area, so the street wasn’t deserted but with moderate traffic. the staff (probably the owner) of the café said the number of visitors was significantly decreased due to COVID-19, particularly the vanishment of large groups of visitors was a severe blow to shops and restaurants.
The IMAI AREA
Art festivals tapping into vacant traditional houses can be seen across Japan, but folk houses in each region are unique, reflecting geographic conditions and history there. So, each festival has its own individuality, even though the format of festivals are common. When it comes to the Imai area, the venues are scattered from traditional folk house designated as an Important Cultural Property to ruined houses. Important Cultural Property houses in Imai-cho are characterized by high ceiling, and the installation inside looked unconstrained in the airy space. |
| exhibitions |
As Imai-cho itself has a lot of closely packed old Japanese folk houses, the main area of the festival is very compact. The exhibitions are composed in line with the festival’s title ”Earth Friendly”, and expected to raise a point for discussion on environmental problems.
The installations are interesting for contemporary art lovers, and the volunteer staff is hospitable. It’s a definitely fine example of art festivals aimed at local revitalization, if not an innovative breakthrough. In Japan, there is a considerable gap in the appreciation between contemporary art lovers and others. It’s not easy to communicate through contemporary art with older people in rural regions, but meanwhile, art works of less resistance for lay people are often boring for contemporary art lovers. That’s the dilemma of art festivals to revive local communities.
The installations are interesting for contemporary art lovers, and the volunteer staff is hospitable. It’s a definitely fine example of art festivals aimed at local revitalization, if not an innovative breakthrough. In Japan, there is a considerable gap in the appreciation between contemporary art lovers and others. It’s not easy to communicate through contemporary art with older people in rural regions, but meanwhile, art works of less resistance for lay people are often boring for contemporary art lovers. That’s the dilemma of art festivals to revive local communities.
Maybe I expect too much. Strolling about the historical area full of suggestive art works was lavish enough.
Comments
Post a Comment