In next room, there are two screens side by side showing the video work from the Illuminance series. Kawauchi, who studied cinematography in the graphic design major in her college, has a unique style of filming. The video work was filmed at almost the same timing as she photographed still images. She must be one of the unusual artists who captures images in such neutral way in both photography and film.

A photograph from the “Illuminance” series, 2009. © Rinko Kawauchi

The video work does not have a particular story and shows the ordinary scenes such as children, hands preparing a meal, the tail of a big fish, and the lane of the countryside. However it was very impressive to me personally. While I was watching the video, I felt like my feeling was purified and my body got warmed. I also felt like I was remembering the faces of my old friends who I have been thinking to contact. All these feelings were elusive but aroused slowly while I was watching the video.

“Video is more physical than photography,” Kawauchi said. Video is more closer to the reality compared to photography, in which captures a moment. Certainly, as a viewer, the video work enabled me to experience the beat of something bigger and systematic. It was a video experience in which my eye sight affected my body intelligibly.

The exhibition space for the latest work “Ametsuchi” and “Seeing Shadow” would not turn into a reality at other gallery spaces. As soon as I entered the space, I understood why this museum was selected for this exhibition.

On the ground of one of the stars among the immense universe,
I think of the beginning,
The Earth is a mirror to project heaven.
Photography captures the mirror. It connects the Earth and heaven.
When the darkness reaches at the bottom, the light will arrive.

As her above statement describes, the universe-like space is expanded in the wide and dark exhibition space. Especially, the videos of blue sky and soundless flame on either side of the walls are overwhelming. The image of a huge mountain “Ametsuchi” was photographed during the annual “Noyaki” in Aso,

A photograph from the “Ametsuchi” series, 2012. © Rinko Kawauchi

Kawauchi said “when I stand on the ground in Aso, I felt that I was standing on the planet for the first time”. As I walk forward the screen which shows the images of Aso, I started to feel the experience. Mayumi Tsuruoka, a researcher of Art Civilization and a professor at Tama Art University, stated that noyaki is a 1000 years-old work of humanity. A human-being, who only can live on the Earth, sets fire on the ground and send it to heaven.

Moreover, at the opening conversation for her another exhibition “Light and Shadow” at TRAUMARIS, Kawauchi stated as follow.

–When I was a child, I wondered what the world was and what I was. I still cannot forget the thought. The fear, when I realized that I was standing alone, might be a foundation of my creation. It is a simple fact that we are just small and weak creatures who are standing on Earth. I just trace the world I live by taking pictures–.