Designing a Portable Shrine, Mikoshi : Formative Design of "Emptiness," Revitalizing People and the Society
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- SHIMOYAMA Hajime
- Jissen Women's University, Department of Aesthetics and Art History
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- TAKAHASHI Ryo
- Gunma Prefectural Women's University, Department of Aesthetics and Art History
Bibliographic Information
- Other Title
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- 神輿のデザイン : 人と社会の活性化を促す「空(うつ)」の造形
- ミコシ ノ デザイン : ヒト ト シャカイ ノ カッセイカ オ ウナガス 「 ソラ(ウツ)」 ノ ゾウケイ
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Abstract
Nowadays, people are constantly trying to revitalize their communities with different local events, one of the more promising being the local festivals. The mikoshi, the highlight of the festival, seems to play an important role in this revitalizing process. The author has previously collaborated with Takasaki Art Production Project QUALOE including young designers and artists. A company in Gunma prefecture commissioned the group to design and create a corporate mikoshi, so that they could start participating and contribute to the local festival. As the newcomer was first time in 10 years for this local festival, the expectations were extremely high. After a great deal of trial and error the group QUALOE succeeded in making a mikoshi with a high degree of perfection, possibly one of the best works of QUALOE. Moreover, when the mikoshi was carried around at the festival, it inspired much more excitement than we had anticipated. Since ancient times the designs of the mikoshi have been the reflection of people's feelings. While researching the formative designs of mikoshis, the author grabbed the idea of "emptiness." This concept has the power to revitalize people and the society. This is something we will keep within us and something that will continue into the future.
Journal
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- Environmental Art and Design
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Environmental Art and Design 12 (0), 51-58, 2013
Institute of Environmental Art and Design