With news of the tragic events in Japan on the forefront of
global consciousness, there seems to be an endless influx of footage,
stories, and images of the unimaginable devastation resulting from the
natural disasters still besieging large parts of this beautiful
country.
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| Potemkin by Casagrande + Rintala |
It's
created an opportunity to take a step back, put things in perspective,
and determine how we, as a society, can address crises, whether it be in
terms of logistics and communications, preparedness and planning, or
regulations and life safety. In fact, numerous articles have already
been published discussing the effectiveness of Japan's seismic building
standards and comprehensive evacuation and public alert systems that
likely saved thousands of lives on Friday.
Indeed, there are countless lessons to be learned from the Sendai
earthquake and tsunami, and the international dialogue has already begun
among researchers, scientists, and policy-makers. However, instead of
discussing infrastructure, building codes, or alternative energy sources
today, I thought it might be worthwhile to look at the natural and
built environment from another perspective, and take a cue from Japan
with regard to sustainability in a social and cultural context.
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| The Rice Field |
When news of the devastation arrived, the gravity of the situation
struck with force, and many of us watched as this highly developed and
advanced society confronted its worst disaster in modern history. In
addition to the tangible losses, there are also implications for this
culturally-rich island country whose support for the arts, tradition,
and social initiatives have been of less immediate concern. One program
in particular that that came to mind was the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, the world's largest public art festival, occuring every three years in the Niigata Prefecture.
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| Stone Forest by Kees Ouwens |
The
event consists of hundreds of artworks installed in public fields,
abandoned buildings and forests, aimed at reviving local and
international interest and tourism, as well as promoting public art in
this otherwise economically depressed, rural region with an aging
demographic. The convergence of public art, economic revitalization,
and social equity issues reflects a critical component of the Triple
Bottom Line, as valued cultural institutions are essential for a truly
sustainable future. This festival, which engages visitors with the
natural environment in new and innovative ways, does just that, in
addition to providing a venue for emerging contemporary artistic talent.
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| minna-no-kusamura by Takeshi Saito + Kiyotaka Kurosa |
Artists
collaborate with local communities to address environment, context and
placemaking through artistic interpretation. Works include both
permanent and temporary outdoor installations, transformations of
abandoned homes and schools, and the creation of context-specific
gathering spaces that celebrate the beauty of the natural landscape
throughout the 760 square km site.
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| Song of Wind by Yasuyuki Wantanabe |
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| Snow in Snow by Takenori Miyamoto + Hiromi Seno |
So,
as we continue to follow this news story and consider Japan's future,
it's also worthwhile to celebrate the social and cultural legacy of this
beautiful country and remember its value in creating a sustainable
future from all perspectives: environmental, economic and cultural...
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| For Lots of Lost Windows by Utsumi Akiko |
