Mujō (The Heartless)
Installation view at Aichi Triennale 2019
Mujō (The Heartless), 2019
Photo: Ito Tetsuo
Five films in total are exhibited in the blacked-out gallery, one in monochrome and four in full color and in high resolution.
The monochrome film made in the early 1940s is a part of the collection of the National Museum of Taiwan History. It documents one of several Civilian training centers, built for "Japanizing" citizens in Taiwan. The color film shows young foreigners, who immigrated to Aichi for study and work, reenacting the training and rituals that they see in the 1940s monochrome film.
The monologue at the beginning of the film is taken from the novel "Assistant Instructor" by Zhou Jinbo, which was commissioned by the Japanese Government-General of Taiwan and published in 1944.
Fujii's recent works focus on reenactment, which means to act out past events. His work then enables us through the act reenactment, to feel closer to seemingly distant historical events, thus bringing us closer to them.
FUJII Hikaru
- Born 1976 in Tokyo, Japan
- Based in Tokyo, Japan
Fujii Hikaru's practice is based on the notion that artistic production implies a close relationship with society and history. Mainly in the form of video installation, he creates work that responds to contemporary social issues through detailed research and fieldwork on unique cultures and histories of various countries and regions. Fujii organizes workshops--intersections for interdisciplinary and artistic collaboration between specialists from diverse various fields. Here he reenacts historical events with participants as well as generates a situation where an active discussion arises. His methodology links the present with the past in creative ways, while structurally critiquing the domains of history and society that remain invisible.
Selected Works & Awards
| 2018 | How you know little about me, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea Seoul Branch, Seoul, South Korea |
| 2018 | Onassis Fast Forward Festival 5, Old Chemistry Laboratory (Law School Library), National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece |
| 2018 | Travelers: Stepping into the Unknown, The National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan |
| 2017 | NISSAN ART AWARD 2017, BankART1929, Kanagawa, Japan, Grand Prix |
| 2016 | MOT Annual 2016 Loose Lips Save Ships, The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan |
Map
Nagoya City Art Museum
Address
Open
(Fri-20:00)
Admission until
30 minutes
before closing
Closed
Access
・7 minutes on foot from Osu Kannon Station on the Tsurumai Line
・10 minutes on foot from Yabasho Station on the Meijo Line
