STORY
Over the years I have been thinking about what would be the possibilities of public art
and limitations of installing artworks outside.
What is necessary in order for artworks taken outside of the white cube context and
placed in the street to maintain both their meaning and presence?
How does this meaning and presence relate to the concept of function?
Does it mean anything to raise this question itself in the first place?
The A&A Project was an idea that was conceived in the process of exploring such questions.
It is a vast sculpture by an artist, and architecture by an architect at the same time –
something that could be a subject for viewing and also a functional object that could be experienced.
We wanted to build small accommodation facilities that harbored such qualities,
dispersing them throughout various locations in Okayama city like installing public artworks.
Taro Nasu, Project Director
Over the years I have been thinking about what would be the possibilities of public art and limitations of installing artworks outside.
What is necessary in order for artworks taken outside of the white cube context and placed in the street to maintain both their meaning and presence? How does this meaning and presence relate to the concept of function? Does it mean anything to raise this question itself in the first place?
The A&A Project was an idea that was conceived in the process of exploring such questions. It is a vast sculpture by an artist, and architecture by an architect at the same time – something that could be a subject for viewing and also a functional object that could be experienced. We wanted to build small accommodation facilities that harbored such qualities, dispersing them throughout various locations in Okayama city like installing public artworks.
Taro Nasu, Project Director
TEAM
YASUHARU ISHIKAWA
Producer
President of ISHIKAWA FOUNDATION
Yasuharu Ishikawa is Founder and Chairman of Ishikawa Foundation which focuses mainly on conceptual art since 2014. The foundation is also engaged in other efforts to promote business and culture in his hometown, Okayama. Held in Okayama City once every three years, the Okayama Art Summit is an international exhibition of contemporary art; Ishikawa has been continue to be in charge of its Executive Producer from the first edition 2016.
TARO NASU
Project Director
TARO NASU, Owner
Born in 1966, Okayama, Japan. Graduated from Waseda University in 1990. After several years experience at Tenmaya in Okayama, in 1998, established a contemporary art gallery TARO NASU in Tokyo. In 2016, established an art consulting company Art & Public Co., Ltd. Over the years, has dedicated himself to spread the contemporary art through various activities by TARO NASU and Art & Public, often collaborated with domestic and foreign public sectors, museums and institutions. Appointed to an art advisory at “Imagineering OKAYAMA ART PROJECT” in 2014, and also has been serving as General Director of Okayama Art Summit since 2016.
JUN AOKI
Advisor
President of Jun Aoki & Associates
Director of Kyoko City KYOCERA Museum of Arts
Professor of Tokyo University of Arts
Born in Yokohama 1956. Graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1982. After working for Arata Isozaki & Associates, founded Jun Aoki & Associates in 1991. Received Architectural Institute of Japan Annual Award (1999) and Minister of Education’s Art Encouragement Prize (2005). His main works include: Mamihara Bridge, Fukushima Lagoon Museum, Louis Vuitton Omotesando, Aomori Museum of Art, Omiyamae Gymnasium, among others.