Exhibited at a cafe just behind the United Nations University were works by Defyra, a design group consisting of four women. The place did not seem to be popular in spite of its location in front of the very popular Aoyama book centre. This is one of the most interesting points of TDB, that art works are exhibited everywhere even if the place is not usually noticed by people. I almost stayed in the caf_ for ages, losing track of time because the atmosphere in the cafe was like something from Northern Europe’s fairy tale world.

Even though you say Aoyama area, the exhibition venues were dotted in such a wide area that it was too large to walk around. So I decided to rent a bicycle from R-Cycle, one of TDB’s projects. The concept of this project was to re-design and recycle used things not just renting old things. Then I got a bike and went to the next space.

Micro Orchestra exhibited at Yasu Gallery located on a small street just off Aoyama Street. It was an interactive sound installation by Gabin Ito (scriptwriter), Masaya Matsuura (music composer), and Kiri Matsuura (Image designer). Visitors recreate an area following cones dotted around the Aoyama area with a clue written down on a piece of paper in their hands, collecting a sound in each area. Then, people go back to Yasu gallery with their collected sounds and can then experience a collage of the sounds. What the sound collage is depends on how and where people collect each sound. The concept is very innovative and the Gabin’s story that they are collecting tiny creatures falling from the universe and then playing music is also enjoyable to hear.

At Sputonik Pad, a conceptual space was displayed with a hotel guest room theme. The most notable room was where the works by Shigeki Fujishiro were displayed. The first impression was “simple” but I got an impression that this kind of guest room would be very comfortable. His personal belongings and chairs with intentional curved lines were on display there. I talked with him in person and he was a very friendly, sweet guy similar to the effect one gets from witnessing his work.

At And A, an installation collaborating with And A and Snipe, a mixed media designer group. There were lights like snakes or reeds inside. Unfortunately, I couldn’t visit there at night. So I had to just imagine how it works and looked…