Nobuho Nagasawa

Personal Statement:

In the field of public art, I am interested in creating an interactive space which is informed by the site, its history, function, materiality and spatial narrative. Rather than creating aesthetic objects for public sites, I am interested in exploring public art as a function for social communication and reconstruction. During the conceptual development, I search like an archaeologist or detective -- to explore the sociological and psychological content of the site and investigate the ways in which they affect people, by revealing personal memories and collective histories, hidden myths and contradictory issues of human nature. The immediate physical and social context of the site influences the form, content, and the choice of materials and media in my work.

 

 

Concept for the North Plaza Fountain:

Historically there has always been an element that signifies time in public plazas such as a clock tower or a bell. The genesis of my proposals was a simple question: How can I express the site-specific spirit of an urban neighborhood of "Hiroshima"?

 

North Plaza is an entrance to the first Undergroung Mall in Hiroshima.

My intention is not to create a "Memorial", but to provide a symbolic catharsis for the communities ravaged by tragedy and disaster at this site in Hiroshima. Too many of today's memorials are built as promotional tools for advancing narrowly focused, narcissistic agendas. My fountain Proposal 1 & 2 are meant to be mirrors of ourselves, not just a reflection of the tragic history. The conceptual framework for this plaza emphasizes the connection between past and present through time, and self reflection.

In Proposal 1, people are able to walk behind the fountain to "discover" the "frozen time"(8:15 a.m. - the time when the bomb fell in Hiroshima in 1945) that will be sandblasted into the opaque glass wall that will be lit from the back. The texts will be sandblasted into five granite walls and the water will run calmly over the surface. People may not quickly absorb the concept of the piece at first, but I hope for a discovery of the complex layering metaphors.

 

Proposal 2 is a sculptural intervention into the proposed wall surface. The water will slowly flow on the black granite sculpture that is sandblasted with the "frozen time".

Both proposals are to be developed further in the design development phase.

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    "I think time and space are concepts created by the human mind and that if we
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    attempt to find out what their true natures are, we are compelled to return to the nature of the greater life force. "

     

    dialogue between Arnold Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda, from 1976

     

     

     

     

    Proposal for Elevator Doors and Light Boxes within the Walls

    So far, wall, column, floor and ceiling areas in the different plazas has been designated as "Art opportunities", however, I’d like to propose an additional area as "art discovery" pieces.

    • Elevator Doors:

    I think it would be a lot of fun to provide images on to the elevator door. It is usually very boring to wait when you are waiting for the elevator to come.

    By etching images on the elevator door, these images will be animated by the opening and closing of the doors. For example two hangs could meet as the door open and close, a flower can grow as the door opens, etc.

     

     

    • Light Boxes in the Wall

    Light box inserted into the wall can be a very playful element. Images will be selected from human body, plants, animals and natural phenomena.