ART AWARD TOKYO 2007 Grand Prix
Akika Kojin interview

Please tell us about ``Walk in Ma Ma'', the Grand Prix winning work of ART AWARD TOKYO 2007. Why did you decide to create your work using spaghetti?

I love spaghetti, and my mother often sends it to me, but when I took a closer look at the ingredients, I noticed that there were secretly black particles in them, an indescribable transparency, and a yellow color. "It's a mysterious material. There seems to be an unknown structure inside these noodles..." That's what got me thinking. My mother used to scold me when I played with food, but I'm looking forward to being able to play with my food to the fullest now. When we look at food and the things around us as materials, it's very interesting to see how they can be used in so many different ways.

How did you feel about AAT after actually participating?

The best thing was being able to hear opinions and advice from various people about my work. Also, while standing in front of my own work and explaining it to me, I was able to reacquaint myself with the intention of the work, which I had not been aware of before.

Was it different from the reviews you received at school?

It felt a little more open. Also, since AAT uses public corridors for exhibitions, it was great to have the opportunity for the general public to see the works. I was curious about how my work was viewed, so I visited Venue several times. I've seen children standing in front of my works thinking about something, and parents with their children talking about them. It was a very interesting experience to be able to see people who are not particularly interested in art interacting with such works up close.

Did anything change after winning the AAT Grand Prix?

I gained a little more confidence. Also, this exhibition has given me more opportunities to hear from you. Mr. Mizuma of Mizuma Art Gallery saw my work and gave me the opportunity to exhibit it, and I also participated in a project at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, and at the beginning of this year I had an exhibition at a gallery in Taiwan. is. An exhibition in Brazil will begin in April.

What was your experience of participating in the project at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo?

I was surprised when I first heard about it. I thought, "Maybe I should do it myself." However, when I was shown Exhibition Venue, I changed my mind. I thought I'd do everything I could. It was a really interesting place. It's a show window in the walkway leading from Shinjuku Station's Marunouchi Line to JR, and there are a lot of people there. When I was planning this project, I was curious about how my work was being viewed, so I went to see what it was like. Even though there were many people in a hurry, some people stopped in front of the work and looked at it, which made me very happy. The work exhibited here is a quiet work that depicts the moment when a flower is reflected on the surface of water, so this work ``pops'' in such a rugged place, and is enjoyed by busy people. It was interesting to stand there and watch. This project had something in common with AAT in that it was seen by people who would not go to museums or galleries.

What kind of works have you been creating lately?

I've always had a sense of approaching empty spaces, but lately I've been interested in ``things that can't be formed but are there''. I thought it would be amazing if I could create my own light, so at the end of last year I created an RGB-like piece. We cut tracing paper into 5mm width pieces, dyed them with red, blue, and green pigments, and created countless rings from each piece, which were then displayed like curtains measuring 5m wide and 3m wide. Because it was in a place with natural light, each ring could be seen or not seen as the sunlight changed, and as I moved, I couldn't tell what was in front of me and what was in the background, so it was almost like fog floating in the air. It's getting closer to. I hope to create some kind of phenomenon by accumulating small actions within my ability using familiar materials like tracing paper.

Lastly, could you give a message to the students taking this year's AAT?

The exhibition space given to each person at AAT is very small, but I want them to enjoy it as much as they can. I was exhibiting with some of my classmates from university, and I remember being excited and thinking, ``This is our last chance to exhibit together, so let's enjoy it!'' This is a great opportunity, so please enjoy exhibiting.

February 7, 2008 Interviewer: Chitomo Yamashita