The 5th “Rokko Meets Art 2014” is held at various venues on top of the Rokko Mountain in Kobe and has total 42 artists. People enjoy the exhibition of painting, sculpture, performance, and workshop in a picnic-like atmosphere. Both rich natural environment of early to late autumn and art works entertain visitors at the same time. Especially this season shows climax of fall with colored leaves and fallen leaves and the art works exhibited outdoor look different day by day. In the enriched nature of Rokko mountain, each artist takes advantage of the environment maximum and creates totally different faces from museum exhibition.

Subject to all the works by invited artists and artists of public offering, audience selects “Rokko Meets Art Award”. The grand prix of this year is “Town on Top of Mountain” by Shintaro Miyake.

In this work, he becomes as “Mr. Blue Moon” and “develops” the land by live painting and live building. Taking after Groom’s exploitation of Rokko Mountain at Meiji era, he wears costume of “Mr. Blue Moon” and produced new town. He stayed at Rokko for 3 months for this production and many people can look at the proceeding work during that time.

Semi grand prix is “Mune no Doki Doki (Heartbeats Earthenware) by Yoshihiro Sagawa. It’s a work themed with progress of communication from ancient time to now and has taste of humorous and catchiness. People liked this interactive 3D work that is enjoyable particularly outside.

The 3rd place is “-Meeting Dream-“ by Minako Nishiyama. Numerous colorful roses made with sugar candies are spread in the glass house and changing their appearance with time. Sweet smell in the glass house, colorful colors, and gap between the house and surrounding woods are impressive.

There are other highlights too: Tomoko Konoike’s new work “Where The Wild Things Are” and 3D work “Inter Traveler”, and 2 video works. Also, “Tail Forest” by Yusuke Asai that is set up in the woods, 3D work by Izumi Kato, “Rokko Book Café” by Saburo Ota, “White Discharge (Figure)” by Teppei Kanauji and so on. A work by Osamu Kokuhu who passed away by accident was introduced as special exhibition.

As the concept “Enjoy Rokko with the five senses through art”, the exhibition is filled with much volume and it was well balanced as well. We can’t wait for the next year.

Rokko Meets Art 2014
Date: September 13th – November 24th, 2014
Place：Rokko Garden Terrace, Rokko-Shidare Observatory, Mount Rokko Country House, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, Rokko International Musical Box Museum, Mount Rokko Hotel, Rokko Cable Car, Rokko Hilltop Gallery, Rokko-Arima Ropeway (Rokko Sancho Station)
http://www.rokkosan.com/art2014/