| The scenes in which buildings are destroyed and another new building is being built upon the very same site... The repetition of a city's destruction and rebirth in such a way seem natural, similar to human beings' breathing the air. On the very moment when the daylight of the noisy city turns to the still of the night, another new building is being born. Just like human cells keep being reborn, a city keeps its re-birthing activity, too. This work got started from my question whether a city is "alive," too? |
I am extremely thrilled to receive this wonderful award. When I received the honor for the first time in 1997, it helped me gain more confidence in my work. This time, I would love to leap even further as a result of receiving this honor of the Grand Prize.
This work was inspired from the thought that, just like human cells continue to be re-born, a city, too, continues to be re-born from within. For example, this occurs when buildings are destroyed, and new ones are built in their place. It is not always a good thing to completely renew everything, however; there are numerous examples of resurrections possibly done by only "partial" re-birthing activities. From the viewpoints of urban history and environment, it is necessary that we keep what is good, even if it may be old. From now on, I feel that the term "re-born" will become one of the most important key words, in a variety of senses.
Lastly, I am so grateful to everyone at Toray, as well as the members of the DCA Screening Committee, for offering us such a wonderful space. I hope you will continue to let so many of us with various backgrounds to present our works of art in this space, in the years ahead. Again, thank you very much. |
