Summer Tones

The exhibition "COLOR-HUNTING" is held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT in Tokyo. We can experience various things about COLOR. Titled "Summer Tones," the work is most impressive for me. Wind bells with indigo dyed strips play good sounds and swing in the air. So to speak, I can hear the color, I can see the sound. Color of strips changes from indigo to white by gradation. "Tone" is translated as "音色" into Japanese: "音" means sound; "色" means color. So, we can experience sound and color by several tones. That is the theme of this work "Summer Tones," I think.

Movie uploaded on Vine. Listen to wind bells sound and see swinging strips.

Pictures show the color gradient of "Summer Tones."

Nagashizu Tenugui

"Nagasizu-tenugui Project" was realized in the website "READY FOR?", one of the crowdfunding platform in Japan. In the project, tenugui, a traditional cloth in Japan like a towel, is produced and taken to people in Nagashimizu district in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, the sponsors and the architects overseas. The district was damaged by Tsunami on March 11th, 2011

I received nagashizu tenugui, too. It is in the motif of wave and its color is vivid. This design empowers me! I have not talked to people in Nagashimizu district. Each time I use it, I will remember that they and sponsors use the same tenugui. It is a landmark for reconstruction, very small but lasting. To be honest, the memory of the disaster will fade away in time, but we can bring back it. I think nagashizu tenugui is a landmark to bring back "3.11."

"Nobody can hate the sea they are always with." Risa Komuro said. She planned the project. I was impressed by her words and decided to support the project. When applying the words to me, I think my hometown, "Azumino," the land around many mountains in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. If encounter a disaster such as a landslide, do I hate the mountains? I can not answer about it. If that, can I remember what I felt in having a sympathy with the project? I want me to do, now.

(Originally written on September 15th, 2011 and edited for re-post.)