Page 60 - Art-Addiction

KeIGo yaMaMoto

1936 born in Fukui Prefecture, Japan
lives and works in tokyo and Fukui, Japan

While culture has been headed for urbanization, the advances in computer technology have made the
world smaller, and changed our concept of time and space. The Internet, in particular, has enabled us to com-
municate with any remote site without any time lag, and to introduce telecommuting systems into companies
as a new working style. This progress in electronic information systems can be a piece of evidence that the
one-way approach of urbanization is not enough to survive the upcoming 21st century. In other words, a one-
way flow of energies alone cannot expect to create something unique or attractive. Indeed, at this rate, cities
in the world might be standardized and turn out to be unattractive places.What we need for the cities in the
21st century is intentionally to utilize more of nature. We will have to explore a new type of culture by mingling
“Urban energies” and “rural energies”, and harmonizing them.Viewed in this light, Japanese gardens made
during the Muromachi period (1392-1573) could be a good model. I believe the philosophy and thoughts behind
these gardens could give us a clue to help survive the 21st century. One good example is “rock garden at
ryoanji or ryoa Temple”. elements of this garden include natural rocks arranged in as natural-looking a state as
possible in the midst of white sand representing flowing water. This style of garden is called “karesansui” or dry
landscape, and it features an abstract symbolism of nature. The concept of ”karesansui”is linked to a view of
universe. Furthermore, ryoanji rock garden provides us with a good example for “shakkei” or view-borrowed
landscape, in which the background elements such as mountains are incorporated into the garden’s composi-
tion. The scenery of east Mountains with thirty-six peaks ranging east of Kyoto, is utilized as a borrowed view in
this garden. We can learn from this garden how to utilize “natural energies” for activating “Urban energies”.The
landscape changes with the weather each day, and needless to say, with the season. Just imagine the garden
on a fine day, say, after a shower, or in the snow. The changes in the borrowed view produce more varieties in
the landscape. As a result, it evokes the thoughts and feelings of the universe with its immense dimensions.
We realize that “rural energies’’ inherent in the garden interact with “urban energies’’, and result in perfect
harmony. I believe this ideology will be essential when we think of the culture we create in the 21st century. In
view of these matters, I gave this work of mine the title of “Urban energies and rural energies”. A single piece
of work can hardly explain this concept, so I decided to present a series of works in line with this theme.

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