BOKETTO
「BOKETTO」 (ぼけっと) Is a Japanese word.
The meaning of this word is “the feeling you get when you are looking blankly into the distance, not thinking about anything special”.
For example, it has the same meaning as daydream, be absent-minded, spaced out, a bovine stupor, etc.
The name was derived from a desire to create a work that would allow people to feel a sense of calm, as if they were surrendering themselves to the natural environment.
She has loved the sea since she was a little girl and used to go in it often.
She was very interested and attracted to the look and feel of the clear, shallow water of the sea and lakes.
When she dipped her feet into the sea water, she could see her feet contorting through the clear water.
The water pressure was so faint on her feet at that moment that it felt as if her feet were being pushed by the waves.
She looked up and saw the surface of the water.
The color of the sky reflected on the entire surface of the sea, the white waves in the distance, and the horizon in the far distance.
She spent many "BOKETTO" moments in the ocean, immersing herself in these sensations, along with the sea breeze and the smell of the ocean.
「BOKETTO」 (「BOKETTO」)
2022.2
Material： Aluminum perforated metal, aluminum pipe, iron, lead, concrete, fishing line, spring
Size ： W400 , D250 , H700 (1 unit) / W6000 , D5000 , H700 (Overall size)
Venue ： ART AWARD TOKYO MARUNOUCHI 2022 /
The 70th Tokyo University of the Arts Graduation Works Exhibition
Notable ： ART AWARD TOKYO MARUNOUCHI 2022, French Embassy Prize
The concept was "time spent relaxing and doing nothing," and a site-specific artwork was created that moves with the natural wind.
She had a strong desire to "stay immersed in the ocean forever," "look out into the distance," and "feel happiness in the time she spent doing nothing," which led her to create this work.
Many units of the same size and structure were produced by her.
By setting them outdoors, it was created that moves like ocean waves.
The only power source for this work is the natural wind that blows at the location where the work is set up.
This work was created at the time she completed her master's degree.
Her master's thesis artwork was presented at the school's graduation exhibition.
She chose the location in front of the library on the Ueno campus of Tokyo University of the Arts as the site for this work for two reasons.
The first reason is the distinctive staircase.
The staircase and spacious entrance in front of the library is where light shines beautifully through the trees.
Additionally, the color of the staircase was beige, which reminded her of the beach near the sea.
By associating this staircase with the beach, she associated the entire work with the lapping waves of the sea.
The second reason is the potential of the viewpoint from which the work is viewed.
By setting this work on the staircase and in Spacious entrance, we can have two different perspectives of viewing the work.
The viewpoint when standing on the ground and standing on top of the stairs.
And since there are no obstacles around the staircase, the artwork can be viewed from any direction.
This variety of viewpoints from which to view the artwork allows for change and discovery in the way the artwork is seen.
The following discoveries can be made with the different viewing perspectives of the work.
When standing on the ground; the rippling movement of the work can be clearly seen.
When viewing from the top of the stairs; the work appears to have more surface area, which enhances the sense of floating.
The colors of the sky are also reflected in the aluminum perforated metal.
Thus, a work reminiscent of the sea was created in front of the library stairs.
The work consists of a collection of units, with a total of 160 units.
She has adopted a “balance toy” structure for the units.
Two pieces of 220 mm square aluminum perforated metal are installed per unit.
Because of the structure at the bottom of the unit, when the wind blows,
the aluminum perforated metal starts to move up and down as if it were a “balance toy”.
Because the bottom of the aluminum perforated metal is weighted,
the aluminum perforated metal will sway up and down but will remain horizontal.
Another feature of this piece is its responsiveness to the location where the work is to be set up.
By measuring the wind speed at the planned location before setting up the work and changing the weight of the weights included in the structure of the work, it is possible to make the work move in an ideal manner even if the location of the work is changed.
The number of units can also be changed to accommodate the space of the setting location.
We should be able to see our own feet through the it if we look in from near the perforated aluminum metal.
This creates an image of "her feet at the bottom of the water, which appear distorted", which was the scene that inspired her.
The structure was realized in such a way that the artwork moves in response to unseen strong or weak winds blowing
at the artwork setting location.
The color of the work changes with the time of day, the weather, and the seasons, which is a response to the environment.
This is because she designed the work to harmonize with the work and the place where it is set.
She polished the surface of the aluminum perforated metal to a mirror finish.
This process allows the work to capture the changing colors of the sky as it changes from morning to noon and evening,
just as the sky reflects its colors on the surface of water.
Aluminum perforated metal has a large surface area and is lightweight.
Therefore, when the wind blows, it expresses "undulating up-and-down movement,"
making it possible to visualize the "delicate path of the wind.
When there are buildings or people near the work, their intrinsic colors appear to be reflected in metal.
This makes the surface of the metal look like the reflection of water.
As sunlight shines through the trees on the work, light and shadows sparkle in conjunction with the up-and-down movement of the aluminum perforated metal.
At night, the surface of the aluminum perforated metal appears as if it is floating in space more than during the day.
Also, if artificial lighting reflects off the surface of the aluminum perforated metal,
it appears as if the light of the moon or a light source is reflected on the surface of the sea.