A collaborative art project called "Hyakki Yakō" (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) has been launched, involving Suzuki Matsuo, a graduate of our university who was appointed as a visiting professor Faculty of Art and Design this May, and our students.
In this project, while exploring Matsuo's worldview, each student will express their own "inner poison" as a mask, based on the theme of "expressing the 'poison' and unease that people harbor within their hearts, with a touch of humor." The students will be divided into four teams: "Mask Production," "Photography Production," "Video Production," and "Planning and Installation," and will work on their projects utilizing their respective expertise. The completed masks, photographs, and video works will be combined into an installation that will be exhibited at the "Great Matsuo Suzuki Exhibition," a special exhibition to be held at the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art from December this year.
On Friday, September 11th, Mr. Matsuo visited our university to hold a project briefing and a special talk event. Ms. Rie Yamashita, curator at the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, who is in charge of the special exhibition "The Great Suzuki Matsuo Exhibition," also took the stage to introduce the highlights of the exhibition and her expectations for collaborative work with students.
At the talk event, Matsuo spoke about his student days when he aspired to be a manga artist, his encounter with theater, and his subsequent creative activities. Reflecting on his own student days, he said that "university is a special time when you can waste a lot of time," and conveyed to the students the importance of cultivating their sensibilities and values not only by seeking efficiency and correct answers, but also by meeting people, experiencing culture, and taking on diverse challenges. He also spoke of the "aesthetics of taking the long way around," and encouraged them to gain various experiences without rushing for results. In the subsequent Q&A session, students asked many questions about the driving force behind his creative activities and his way of thinking in creating his unique worldview.
Regarding this collaborative project, Matsuo said, "Rather than being in a position to guide the students, I myself want to be inspired by the students and grow," and added, "Please help me grow," and "Don't be too serious, have fun, and aim to create something 'funny'," expressing his expectations for the expressions that will emerge from the students' free ideas.
Going forward, the students will continue working on their projects and prepare for their exhibition at the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art.
[Faculty of Art and Design]
