Shinta Inoue

Meanwhile, Shinta Inoue transformed an old house into his own exhibiting place. It was Kyu Yoshida Tei, placed near the approach to Himure-Hachimangu. He projected various animals drawn with spray on a veneer board into the darkness with lighting, and also screened other videos like “pasturage” of which pastured sheep were everywhere in Omi Hachiman. Everyone regardless of all ages and genders seemed to enjoy the converted space.

Takashi Tanaka

Opened in the middle of the period of Biwako Biennale, Oga Shoten had the charcoal chandelier by Takashi Tanaka, a tension-filled installation by Nao Tsuda, Atsunobu Katagiri and Naoki Kusumi on the earthen floor. Known as a live-house renovated sake brewery, Shuyukan showed block print works by Kenji Kitagawa at its cafe space.

Makoto Ofune

Also, an owner of the Shuyukan Makoto Ofune took in charge all the space direction for making a stage exhibiting a huge drawing in the darkness, using old-time brewery of Nishikatsu Shuzo. Some shop windows in the old town had works by an artist group developing works by spoons and toothpicks Saji + Yoji.

Workshop by Jean-Pierre Tenshin

During the period, workshops and concerts were held in each weekend. Workshops were all unique in their own way; wiry toy making workshop by Akio Nishida (Oct.7th), felt making workshop by Keiko Koitabashi (Oct.14th), Animation collaborated workshop by Jean-Pierre Tenshin and OPEN the SESAME (Aug.5,7-9th), gamelan playing experience by Tirta Kencana (Oct.13th), and workshops by Ikuko Matsuo and Elisabeth Amzallag-Auge from education activities team in Paris Pompidou Center (Oct.28th).

Warabimochi Lovers Club

As for other participatory events, Warabimochi Lovers Club by Phirip+Fukashi Kitashukugawa (Oct.21st), sake related events by Saji + Yoji (Oct.14th, Nov.16th) appealed to a wide range of people.

performance by Toru Yamanaka, mamieMU, Eichi Maeda, Koichi Emura

Some concerts were also very interesting. At the inner garden of Kitari Tei, there was a collaboration performance by Dumb Type’s former member Toru Yamanaka, the current member mamieMU, Eichi Maeda, and Koichi Emura from kyupi kyupi. In the fairy like scenery, visuals by Emura were projected on the grate of paper door, Eichi Maeda was dancing to the electric sound by Yamanaka, and mamieMU presented voice performance and playing theremin.

E1-aether

A performance company from Australia E1-aether also showed their performance on the last day of Biwako Biennale, 18th of November at Nishikatsu Shuzo. The performance showed the big influence of the multicultural Australia; the members are not only from Australia, but also from Malaysia and Japan.

About 40 artist groups showed various exhibitions or events for 50 days of the Biwako Biennale in the transitional season. It might be said that it was a rare exhibition in current Japan, exchanging new perspectives with things of relatively old times. I think this is a project we should continue paying attention to in the future.

Biwako Biennale 2007
Date: September 30th – November 18th, 2007
Place: Omi Hachiman, Shiga, Japan
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