4 first-year Master’s students from the AUA Graduate School of Transdisciplinary Arts are currently holding the group exhibition “Slag -echo of the mine-” at the AUA student gallery Araya NINO, through Tuesday, August 17.
The exhibition is based on research the students conducted at several mines located in Akita Prefecture, which they visited as part of their “Transdisciplinary Arts Seminar” course. During the exhibition period there will be additional in-person and online events.
“Slag” refers to the impurities that become separated from molten metal during the smelting process. The Japanese word for slag is “kousai,” or “karami” in the case of nonferrous metals. There are a large number of mines in Akita Prefecture, and at the height of mining activity these served to boost the local economy; today, the remaining buildings – as if symbolizing the industry itself – are deteriorating, and all that remains is the slag, unable to return to nature. Using slag as their material, the student artists ask us to reexamine the objects and existences we no longer have any use for in modern society.
Dates: Sunday, August 8, 2021 - Tuesday, August 17, 2021 11:00-18:00
Venue: Araya NINO (see “Access” below)
Entry: Free
Artists: Umi IWASE, Marika KANETA, Momoka KURIHARA
Planning: Rina SAKURAI
Organized by: AUA Graduate School of Transdisciplinary Arts
In collaboration with: Mukousangenryodonari
Financial support from: 2021-22 Akita City Regional Development Grant
Umi IWASE
Born in Mie in 1998. Graduated from the Faculty of Arts (Sculpture Course) of Kyoto Seika University. Currently enrolled in the Master’s Course of Transdisciplinary Arts, Graduate School of Transdisciplinary Arts, Akita University of Art.
Marika KANETA
Born in Akita in 1995. Graduated from the Landscape Design Department of Akita University of Art. Currently enrolled in the Master’s Course of Transdisciplinary Arts, Graduate School of Transdisciplinary Arts, Akita University of Art.
Momoka KURIHARA
Born in Tokyo in 1998. Graduated from the Department of Painting (Graphic Arts Course), Faculty of Art and Design, Tama Art University. Currently enrolled in the Master’s Course of Transdisciplinary Arts, Graduate School of Transdisciplinary Arts, Akita University of Art.
Rina SAKURAI
Born in Tochigi in 1998. Graduated from the Department of Area Creation of Nara Prefectural University. Currently enrolled in the Master’s Course of Transdisciplinary Arts, Graduate School of Transdisciplinary Arts, Akita University of Art.
Related events
1. Artist talk
Monday, August 16, 13:00-14:00 @ Araya NINO
A talk by the 3 artists: Umi IWASE, Marika KANETA and Momoka KURIHARA (no advance reservation required)
2. Online talk event “Slag – echo of the mine –”
Guest speaker: Motoyuki SHITAMICHI (“japanslagscapearchive”)
Tuesday, August 17, 19:00-21:00 @ ZOOM (online)
An online talk event by Motoyuki SHITAMICHI, who is planning to hold his own exhibition on the subject of “slag.” To view this event, please complete the following form: TALK EVENT
Guest profile
Motoyuki SHITAMICHI
Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1978. Graduated from the College of Art and Design (Painting Department) of Musashino Art University in 2001. His exhibitions and publications include “The shape of war,” a survey of the remnants of former military facilities across Japan.
From 2019, he has been conducting the project/space entitled “Setouchi ‘ ’ Archive,” researching and collecting photographs, books, etc. from islands in the Seto Inland Sea to create what he calls “visible storage.” In the form of photographs, events and interviews, he makes visible both the stories lying buried and forgotten within our everyday lives, as well as more mundane happenings.
His recent exhibitions include “Somewhere between the odd and ordinary” (2021; 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa) and the 58th Venice Biennale (2019; Japan Pavilion, Venice, Italy)
Naoshima Karami Landscape Laboratory
japanslagscapearchive
Motoyuki Shitamichi’s website
* This event may be cancelled or changed due to the spread of COVID-19 or other factors. Please consult the Graduate School website for the latest information concerning this event.
* The organizers of this event will take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Exhibition Images
Access: Araya NINO (84-27 Arayaogimachi, Akita City)
Roughly 5-minutes’ walk from JR Araya Station
Contact (In Japanese only): Student Affairs Division, Akita University of Art Tel: 018-888-8105
Mail: 2021slag@gmail.com
