Gallery show highlights (ZAIM, Yokohama)

Symposium Highlights (Sept 20 -21st)

The seminar took place in ZAIM, Yokohama on the 20th and 21st of september. In attendance were various practitioners in the field of ‘locative art’ practice from Japan, Uk and further afield. I’ll briefly summarize some of the talks and ideas presented within this session. Vensha Christ, an Indonesian based sound artist, spoke about his [...]

Day 19: Going Underground

I’ve been staying in Shinjuku which is the corporate hub of Tokyo – hence, home to an array of astounding skyscraper buildings. The area really does seem like gotham city! Check this image for proof: … and this hasn’t been p-shopped either!! What i found most bizarre about the area is that the majority of [...]

Day 14: JR jingle

When i first got here, riding around tokyo on the JR routes, i noticed that each station stop seemed to play a different little jingle. I was informed that this was the case – they all have their own theme tune. What’s more i was told that i could buy keyrings which played my favorites [...]

Day 12: Uneme Matsuri

Sunday was the ‘harvest moon’ here – hence the Uneme Matsuri took place in Nara. I was lucky to be there on that date – my luck really has been in the last couple of days. The ritual marks the suicide of Uneme who drowned in the lake where the performance takes place. She was [...]

Day 11: Releasing of the Fish

I have moved over to Kyoto where i was lucky to stubble upon a buddhist ceremony happening down on the river where a gathered crowd partook in chants and prayer and the releasing of many fish into the river. The sound i have here today is of that ceremony which was fascinating. I have to [...]

Day 10: In Hear, Out there: Yokohama work complete

Yesterday i finished the creation of the GPS audio walk that is to be the greatest output from this “In Hear, Out there” Japan visit. The work can be ‘experienced’ by booking out one of two IPaqs from the Zaim Arts Lab in Yokohama and then taking this to the Stadium parkland. You will then [...]

Day 10: China Town

Here is a sample taken from a walk through Yokohama’s China town – which i believe is the biggest in Japan. Its a fantastic place which looks great day and night. There is so much stuff packed into such a small area. The tangle of electricity lines running through the site are a spectacle in [...]

Day 8: Baseball!!

Here’s a sound sample of an enthusiastic crowd singing their team on from fridays’ Yokohama Baystars Baseball game. I believe that they won but i can’t remember who the other team were… hmm…

Day 7: No coaster, so Akihabara

Yokohama being the cosmo city it is has its own mini theme park right in the centre of the new commercial district where a great number of multi-nationals have there own landmark towers. I’m told that the rollercoaster is actually quite good, a “B+” my american friend said.. so i went over to check it [...]