SCULPTURE IN TAKAMATSU
2010年07月21日
“But what does it mean”? I must have heard this questions a couple of times a day from people looking at modern paintings and sculptures when I was an education officer in the State Gallery years ago. The answer was always the same, “It ‘means’ whatever you allow yourself to see in it. To ‘enjoy’ art seems still somewhat difficult for many which is odd as music is more abstract than visual art yet rarely, if ever, analyzed in the same way.
Takamatsu is a city just bristling with interesting sculpture and I wish I could write about just how much of it there is to be enjoyed around the city. Heaps of it in fact and there is a useful little book available published by Kagawa Shogo Kaigisho entitled ‘Art Tourism’ (Country Museum Kagawa) with 110 pages of art maps including those with sculptures. I picked up a copy from the Department of Tourism in town and it’s well worthwhile having a copy of this great little booklet.
OK, before the editor JC gets mad I’ll get down to business. Let’s start with just a couple of local sculptures including the favorite ‘The Return of the Father’ a wonderful work in bronze right across from Central Park on Kikuchikan Dori in Takamatsu. This is a single, electrically charged moment of dark energy from the famous play of the same name by Kikuchi Kan (1888~1948) a Takamatsu playwright.
This reminds me of the wonderful parable from the bible ‘The Prodigal Son’ and the father’s forgiveness of the son, who after a profligate and wasteful life is not only forgiven but also feted when reunited into the family. The Lotus Sutra in Buddhism has its own ‘Prodigal Son’ story too and perhaps it’s a universally understood quality but oh-so-difficult act of forgiveness to those we once loved, have hurt us, then seek reconciliation that holds such appeal. This is a ‘Prodigal Dad’ situation with a father returning home after years away in a libertine and wanton life and now in this critical moment, the indignant son’s rejection despite the rest of the family’s mixed feelings.
Powerful stuff indeed and the father’s face tells the story far better than I ever could. I cannot help but look at this every time I pass by on my way to work. Curiously, there is a small orange tree right next to it bearing fruit every year and I always think there may be a related lesson from the tree and its fruit to this story somewhere as well?
From the figurative and classical in bronze to the abstract in stainless steel. This totemic, cosmic beauty in Sunport just erected the day I took this photo is a stunner! What does it mean? Does it matter and who cares anyway? It’s another very engaging work that makes my mind and hopefully everyone else’s think about all kinds of wonderful stuff.
There are a few foreign artists in Takamatsu and Luca Roma a professional Italian sculptor is one. Luca said this piece is one of his recent works and meant to be appreciated by climbing into it and experiencing the sculpture from the inside.
Takamatsu is a city just bristling with interesting sculpture and I wish I could write about just how much of it there is to be enjoyed around the city. Heaps of it in fact and there is a useful little book available published by Kagawa Shogo Kaigisho entitled ‘Art Tourism’ (Country Museum Kagawa) with 110 pages of art maps including those with sculptures. I picked up a copy from the Department of Tourism in town and it’s well worthwhile having a copy of this great little booklet.
OK, before the editor JC gets mad I’ll get down to business. Let’s start with just a couple of local sculptures including the favorite ‘The Return of the Father’ a wonderful work in bronze right across from Central Park on Kikuchikan Dori in Takamatsu. This is a single, electrically charged moment of dark energy from the famous play of the same name by Kikuchi Kan (1888~1948) a Takamatsu playwright.
This reminds me of the wonderful parable from the bible ‘The Prodigal Son’ and the father’s forgiveness of the son, who after a profligate and wasteful life is not only forgiven but also feted when reunited into the family. The Lotus Sutra in Buddhism has its own ‘Prodigal Son’ story too and perhaps it’s a universally understood quality but oh-so-difficult act of forgiveness to those we once loved, have hurt us, then seek reconciliation that holds such appeal. This is a ‘Prodigal Dad’ situation with a father returning home after years away in a libertine and wanton life and now in this critical moment, the indignant son’s rejection despite the rest of the family’s mixed feelings.
Powerful stuff indeed and the father’s face tells the story far better than I ever could. I cannot help but look at this every time I pass by on my way to work. Curiously, there is a small orange tree right next to it bearing fruit every year and I always think there may be a related lesson from the tree and its fruit to this story somewhere as well?
From the figurative and classical in bronze to the abstract in stainless steel. This totemic, cosmic beauty in Sunport just erected the day I took this photo is a stunner! What does it mean? Does it matter and who cares anyway? It’s another very engaging work that makes my mind and hopefully everyone else’s think about all kinds of wonderful stuff.
There are a few foreign artists in Takamatsu and Luca Roma a professional Italian sculptor is one. Luca said this piece is one of his recent works and meant to be appreciated by climbing into it and experiencing the sculpture from the inside.
"Pat has lived in Takamatsu continuously since arriving here on a one year study and leave 1981. Originally from Tasmania, Australia, he was involved in education at a variety of levels including as a specialist teacher for children with learning difficulties, and at senior high schools throughout the state. Pat is employed full-time by the i-pal Kagawa International Exchange as a co-oridintaor for international relations amongst other duties including traveling to schools and giving talks in Japanese to kids about Australia. He has been involved with youth education exchanges between Japan and Australia for many years.
Pat has been many things in his colorful life including a seaman, helmsman, welder, carpenter, traffic warden, scholarship/studentship winner at the university of Tasmania, staff at the Australian Embassy in London to name but a few. Pat has far too many hobbies which include tennis, playing jazz flutes and saxes, riding bicycles with the Takamatsu Cycling Club all of which his long-suffering family tolerate. Recently he's become interested in painting again. His wife wishes he would put more time in to helping around the house and the garden which he artfully avoids ..."
コメントは日本語でもどうぞお気軽に。
※コメントに対してお返事を書けない場合もあります。ご了承ください。
Posted by pat at 11:35
│art
この記事へのコメント
Good evening!
The 2nd term began.
Some students ate out after your lecture.
Of course I did.
They said " R" and "L" are difficult~~.
I can't hear "R" or "L".
and I'm very bad at "v" "ð" "w" too・・・・.
Not only sculpture, there are some lovely tiles on the sidewalk.
Especially, the sea otter at Hyougo-machi.
When you wait for the light, look down, you can find him.
Soooo Loooovely sea otter!
The 2nd term began.
Some students ate out after your lecture.
Of course I did.
They said " R" and "L" are difficult~~.
I can't hear "R" or "L".
and I'm very bad at "v" "ð" "w" too・・・・.
Not only sculpture, there are some lovely tiles on the sidewalk.
Especially, the sea otter at Hyougo-machi.
When you wait for the light, look down, you can find him.
Soooo Loooovely sea otter!
Posted by michiyo at 2010年09月05日 22:44
sea otters! that's right, they're in the pavement, right? thanks for your comment michiyo.
Posted by pat at 2010年09月06日 02:20
Thanks Pat. Going through all your posts now, and picking up ones like this that I've missed. What a treasure trove, ALWAYS with great pictures.
Posted by R.T. at 2011年12月08日 23:15
