Are you going to keep making works with guns and metal?

No, A year later, I probably won’t. I haven’t thought about after that. You never know about your future. I may die, or go somewhere else, or fall in love with someone! I’m not thinking that I will keep doing art. I just do what I want to do now. That’s how I have keep doing art. Some people do things because they have a desire or a goal. I am not like that. I just do things.

I used to think about what is beauty, what is art. I used to search for it. But it was meaningless. As I continue to do art, I happened to see the social value, or meanings sometimes. But it’s not something you should seek for. I just believe myself and do only what I want to do. I don’t know about my future.

I hope the audience to see my present state. I hope they will come and feel it. You can’t see me through tape recordings. I want them to feel me with their five senses.

Unearthing, Photo: Yoshisato Komaki

In this exhibition, you show a work inspired by Hokkaido.

Yes. It called “Unearthing”. I named it after a comic book I used to read when I was a kid. This is my first time to visit Hokkaido, It reminds me of phrases “Ainu” or “Unearthing”.

How is your first visit to Hokkaido?

When I first got here, it was January. It was completely white outside by snow, I wondered if I was really in Hokkaido. I felt that I was in another country. I went to MOERENUMA PARK. And I ate a fish rice bowl. I really liked that fish rice bowl (laughs).
In June 28, I will do performance of salute of guns for a newly married couple at MIYANOMORI ART MUSEUM, I’m really excited.

And what is your plan after this show?

I’m supposed to come back here at November, I don’t know for what, though (laughs).

From your story you are telling us, we get the feeling that your works are who you are.

Exactly. My art includes my way of living. It’s my expression. Nowadays people believe what TV says and their senses are almost numb. Even though they know it is dangerous, or wrong, they don’t act to stop it. In the old days, things were different. Why people don’t act? I think because they can’t imagine things. I think imagination is necessary for the art. As an artist, you always feel anxious or danger. Then you learn to imagine. You can’t just sit there and do nothing. Imagination makes my work. That’s why you said that my works seems to be a reflection of myself. I will keep enjoying to do art as long as I live. I luckily live in the world of art. In this world, you can express whatever you want to.

On June 6, Mr. Enoki held the opening talk show for the beginning of the exhibition at Miyanomori Art Museum. He said in the interview that he is not good at expressing himself by words, but at the same time, he likes people. He smiled at the audience and told them gently about his beliefs. The space was filled with his warmth and his tenderness, and a lot of smiles. He performed of salute of guns at the end of the day. We saw his passion for art.

In this exhibition, we can see his new works, pictures of his past works, and a video of “BAR ROSE CHU” performance. You can also buy his photographic collections or other goods.
At June 21st at Miyanomori Art Museum, they will have a special event in which you can see Mr. Enoki’s works in light of candles. And on June 28th, he will perform a salute of guns for a newly married couple.

The Dangerous Man-Chu Enoki
Date: June 6th – July 27th, 2008
Open: 11:00 – 19:00 (Closed on Monday)
Place: Miyanomori Art Museum, Sapporo
Address: 2-1, 2-11 Miyanomori, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
https://www.miyanomori-art.jp