わたしの首をそこにみる

わたしの首をそこにみる

installation (1F: video / 2F: 35mm slide projecter)

2017 / 金谷美術館別館

鋸山・日本寺には、首を切断された石仏が無数に立ち並ぶ。なかには後年別の首をつぎはぎ(お首つなぎ)したものもあり、単なる宗教的な偶像としてだけではなく、異様なインスタレーションとしての姿もそこには見出せる。首切りの理由は、明治維新の際に行われた廃仏毀釈や、思い人に似た首を像のなかから見つけ、誰にも知られずに切断し、供養すると願いが叶うという迷信など諸説あるが、昨日まで信仰していたはずの仏像の首を切り取る心理状態とはいったいどのようなものか。金谷アーティストインレジデンスプログラム「南総金谷藝術特区」において、滞在制作を行い、金谷美術館別館の登録有形文化財でもある鈴木家の石蔵の1階・2階を利用してインスタレーションした。

I saw my head there

installation (1F: video / 2F: 35mm slide projecter)

2017 / Kanaya Museum of Art Annex

Countless stone statues of Buddha without their heads have overwhelmed visitors at Nihonji Temple in Nokogiriyama. Some of the statues have been installed with someone else's head in later years which action is called "Okubitsunagi". These statues are not only the religious idols but also a unique installation arts. There are various views of the reason why the statues had been cut off their heads. Some say it was because of movements of abolish Buddhism in the Meiji restoration. And others say it was because of the superstition that your wish would come true if you could find the statues similar to someone you like, cut its head off and hold a memorial service. What kind of feeling would be like when you cut off the statues’ heads which supposed to be the object of faith until yesterday?

This work was created as an installation art of “Nanso Kanaya Geijutsu Tokku”, artists-in-residence program. It was exhibited on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Suzuki family's stone warehouse, which is a registered tangible cultural property of the Kanaya Museum of Art Annex.