Category: 障害者アーツ／イベントレポート

Ueno Royal Museum

From March 6th to March 10th, 2024, the Ueno Royal Museum held the 2020 Taito Ward Exhibition of Works by People with Disabilities, “Exhibition in the Forest.”

*The notation of materials used in the work is based on the request of the artist (sender).

Among people with disabilities, there are many who have psychological hurdles that make it difficult for them to publish their work, or who have never been involved in creative activities in the first place. “Exhibition in the Forest” is a collaboration between Taito City and Taito Ward that aims to give such people the opportunity to exhibit their works in art museums, allowing them to learn the joy of engaging in art independently and the joy of having someone recognize their work. This is an exhibition co-sponsored and planned by the Ueno Royal Museum. This is the third year the event has been held, and admission is free.

The exhibitors were people with disabilities who live, study, or work in Taito City, or who use facilities or organizations for people with disabilities in the city, and a total of 254 works were collected, an increase from last year’s 214 works.

The first thing that greeted visitors upon entering the venue was a colorful collection of works called “Midnight Clowns” created by children from Kinryu Elementary School. I created a clown by cutting out the desired shape from colored construction paper that resembled a marble pattern. There is a kind-looking clown who seems to be trying to make you laugh, but there is also a scary-looking clown holding a knife. Even though the basic model was the same, each clown image was very unique, and each one was full of eye-catching power, making me excited and looking forward to future exhibitions.

Although there is a rule that works must be two-dimensional works that can be displayed on a wall, the subject matter and materials are free, so you can enjoy a rich variety of expressions such as paintings using watercolor, acrylic, colored pencils, etc., tear-paper paintings, origami, clay, calligraphy, etc. This is also the charm of this exhibition.

Prizes will also be awarded to works judged to be particularly outstanding at this exhibition. This year’s judges were Yukazu Kabayama, president of Musashino Art University, painter Kenichi Yuma, and calligrapher Masanobu Fukino.

This year, there were many outstanding works, and in addition to last year’s Taito Ward Mayor’s Award, Ueno Royal Museum Award, Excellence Award, and Honorable Mention, we have newly established a Special Jury Award. In addition, works that unfortunately did not win will be introduced as winning works.

Maiko Morimura’s “Sakari” was selected for the Taito Ward Mayor’s Award.

Artist ‘s comment: The kanji “forest” means “the gathering of trees,” and through this work “Sakari,” the feelings of people who were usually estranged come together and are renewed with a joyful feeling. I would be happy if you could find something that will continue your journey in life.

This work, which was described by the judges as “never boring to watch” and “like opening a treasure box,” is exactly as the title suggests, with a variety of elements blending together to create an exquisite work. It is a masterpiece packed with detail with a sense of elegance.

A mysterious world in which birds and eggs symbolically appear, which cannot be determined from any era or country, is expanded with a three-dimensional effect by creating layers of epoxy resin. A variety of materials are used, and if you look closely you can see that the green tree-like part in the upper right corner is made from a plastic bag closure that closes a bread bag. They displayed outstanding originality.

 

As I was touring the venue, I noticed that many of the names of people who had created memorable works at the previous event were also there this time. When I looked into it, I found out that Maiko Morimura, who won the Taito Mayor’s Award, also won the Ueno Royal Museum Award at the first edition.

When we spoke to the person in charge of this exhibition, he said, “This is the third time the exhibition has been held, and there are already some “familiar” artists appearing. “Some people have sent us works with different approaches, and I’m happy to think that this exhibition has motivated them to create,” she says with a smile.

As part of Taito City’s “Arts Project for People with Disabilities,” art instructors are dispatched to facilities for people with disabilities in the city to hold art workshops. Recently, more and more facilities have heard of the exhibition’s reputation and are asking us to hold a workshop at their facility, so we feel that the exhibition is steadily becoming more well-known. It’s called.

“It’s a great motivation for us to see all the facilities that participated in the workshop come to the exhibition as a group and share their joy,” said the person in charge.

In addition, starting this year, a desk calendar has been produced that uses the award-winning works as designs. (This year’s calendar features award-winning works from the previous and two previous years)

It is said that the award-winning works will be featured in next year’s calendar, and increasing the number of opportunities for their works to be seen in this way will lead to even greater motivation among the artists. Among the regular artists who improve their skills and publish new works, some may one day make a breakthrough in the art world, so I’d like to keep an eye on them in the future.

Some of the award-winning works will be exhibited at the Art Gallery on the 1st floor of Taito Ward Office from March 21st (Thursday) to April 19th (Friday), 2024, so if you are interested, please come and visit us. please look.

Overview of 2020 Taito Ward Exhibition of Works by People with Disabilities “Exhibition in the Forest”

Period	March 6, 2024 (Wednesday) – March 10, 2024 (Sunday)
venue	Ueno Royal Museum
Admission fee	free
WEB	https://www.city.taito.lg.jp/bunka_kanko/culturekankyo/events/shougaiarts/r5morinonakanotenran.html

*The content of the article is as of the date of coverage (March 6, 2024).

 

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Ueno Royal Museum

From March 8 to March 12, 2023, the Ueno Royal Museum held an exhibition of works by people with disabilities in Taito Ward, "Exhibition in the Forest."

In Taito City, we are creating opportunities for all people to enjoy culture and the arts, supporting their participation in cultural and artistic activities, and promoting the "disabled arts" initiative to promote understanding of disabilities.

This was the second time for the "Exhibition in the Forest" hosted by Taito City and the Ueno Royal Museum as part of the "Arts for the Disabled".

One of the reasons for holding the exhibition was that when Taito Ward interviewed facilities for persons with disabilities, they said, "I want to do something different from what I usually do at the facility" and "I want to make it an opportunity to take on difficult challenges." I think it was sent to me.

In addition, there are many people with disabilities who find it difficult to present their own works to the world due to psychological hurdles, and many who have never been involved in creative activities in the first place. Through the opportunity for such people to exhibit their works at the museum, he planned to let them know the joy of being independently involved in art and the joy of having their work recognized by someone.

The exhibitors were people with disabilities who live, work, or go to school in Taito Ward, or who use facilities or organizations for the disabled in Taito Ward. Works created at art workshops held by dispatching art instructors to facilities for the disabled, as well as works created in classes for special needs classes at elementary and junior high schools in the city were also exhibited.

The subject matter is free. The venue was lined with unique works created with free use of color and ideas, centering on paintings such as watercolors, colored pencils, and prints.

The caption attached to the work contains only the title, the name of the author (pseudonym is acceptable), and a short comment from the author. I don't know your age, your previous creative experience, or of course the degree or type of your disability. When I hear about art by people with disabilities, I think that some people may think that they are good at it despite being physically handicapped, or that they are amazing even though they are blind. So, it was structured so that you can face the charm of art itself.

Also, the exhibition is not just a place to display works. Exhibited works will be seen by art experts, and particularly excellent works will be selected and commended as the Taito Ward Mayor Award, the Ueno Royal Museum Award, the Excellence Award, or the Honorable Mention. This year, 10 works were selected by the jury members Yukazu Kabayama, professor and dean of the department of oil painting at Musashino Art University, painters Tomiya Nishimura and Kenichi Asuma, and calligrapher Masanobu Fukino. .

I was able to hear some reviews.

Mr. Hirotaka Sasou, who won the Taito Ward Mayor's Award, wrote "What's for dinner today?" 》 commented, “The strength of the sensation you feel when you see a bird is reflected in the painting. It only depicts the head, but it conveys the feeling of seeing the bird in this way. It is a strong picture with a sense of purpose.” “The composition is magnificent.

Naoki Ohashi's Elephant, which won the Ueno Royal Museum Award, said, "It doesn't look like an elephant, but you can tell it's an elephant at a glance. The contrast between the black and the yellow background is splendid.” “You can see that the fangs and other parts have been touched many times.

Knowing what these professionals pay attention to will change the way you look at your own and others' creations, and I feel that more interesting and new ideas will come out.

When you create a work, you want people to see it, and you want it to be recognized. Participating in this exhibition and winning awards may lead to the creation of future big-name artists among those who know the joy of creation!

Finally, most museum goods are displayed outside the exhibition venue, but I was surprised to find that there was merchandise sales inside the exhibition venue. The items on sale were sweets, cloth products, and leather products made by welfare workshops in Taito Ward.

When I talked to the person in charge of Taito Ward, it is the current situation that even if a good product is made, it is only known to those in the know due to limited sales channels. He said he was trying to raise awareness.

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Partly due to the fact that admission is free, the first day of the exhibition when I interviewed was very crowded, and I saw a few groups of students visiting for field trips. In many exhibitions, there is a tense atmosphere where private conversations are avoided, but at this exhibition, visitors freely exchanged opinions about the works, and many took pictures, creating a very warm atmosphere. atmosphere. Some of them were probably exhibitors, and it was very impressive to see them lively explaining their own works.

The previous exhibition had 141 works, but this time the number has increased to 214, and the scale of the exhibition is gradually increasing. If you take a look at the works on display, which have no sense of unity in a good way, you should be able to find works that will leave a lasting impression on you. The third event is scheduled to be held in 2024, so please keep an eye out for it.

Overview of "Exhibition in the Forest"

exhibition period	March 8 (Wed) – March 12 (Sun), 2023
venue	Ueno Royal Museum
Admission fee	free
website	https://www.city.taito.lg.jp/bunka_kanko/culturekankyo/events/shougaiarts/morinonaka.html

*The content of the article is as of the interview date (March 8, 2023).

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Tokyo Bunka Kaikan

On November 3, 2021, “Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Relaxing Performance-Concerts that can be enjoyed across generations and obstacles-“ was held at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Ueno, Tokyo.

Unlike general classical music concerts, we covered this performance, which has an environment that even people who have difficulty watching quietly due to developmental disabilities and physical characteristics can enjoy it with peace of mind. And reports on our efforts.

Is it okay to make voices and sounds in the audience seats !? What is “relaxing performance”?

One of the most important etiquettes in a regular classical music concert is not to make noise.

Refrain from speaking privately while playing, and of course turn off your cell phone, but be careful of sneezing, coughing, flipping programs, and touching plastic bags. In order to prevent noise caused by opening and closing the door, theater staff will restrict admission except between songs and movements …. It is usual for each person in the venue to be aware of actions that interfere with performance and appreciation.

The consideration is to allow everyone to concentrate on the performance, but on the other hand, people with developmental disabilities who make voices or upset due to external stimuli, people who cannot sit still due to illness, respiratory organs For some people, such as those who are indispensable, the hurdles for appreciation are inevitably high.

The “Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Relaxation Performance-Concerts that can be enjoyed across generations and obstacles-” will create an environment where people who are worried about art appreciation at such theaters can enjoy it with peace of mind, and the rules and etiquette. A new form of performance that has begun to take root in Europe and the United States called “relaxing performance” that alleviates the problem. This is the second performance of this performance, starting in 2020.

As the name suggests, it’s a concert held in a relaxed atmosphere.

It’s okay if you make a little voice or sound, or if you move your body.
Do not completely dim the lighting in the audience seats.
If you need a break during the performance, you are free to go out of the hall .

By doing this, healthy people who feel that “classical music concerts have a lot of etiquette and are stuffy” and parents who are “anxious about whether their children can watch quietly” are all concerned if they are 4 years old or older. It is an environment that you can enjoy without any problems.

Braille program and experience sound system … Various ideas to make music more enjoyable

If you go to the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan on the day, you will notice that the program you can get at the reception is a little different from that of a general classical music concert, and there are many illustrations and it is very colorful.

“I learned that visuals are very important because the usual program is mostly text, but people with autism and developmental disabilities have less information coming from the text, so the” Relax Performance “program. In addition to writing the song commentary in easy Japanese, I tried to create a page that visually shows the order of the songs by attaching illustrations that match the image of the song. ”

Mr. Sugiyama, who was in charge of the production of this performance, was in charge of the business planning section of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan .

In line with the universal design guidelines, the program was completed by trial and error based on feedback from the teachers of the special school workshop so that the font size and color scheme would be easy for people with color blindness to understand. And.

In addition, Braille programs and program data corresponding to the reading function are also available. It seems that this information was posted on the homepage about 3 weeks before the performance for the families and caregivers of people with disabilities, and I felt the careful consideration.

The audience seats are equipped with equipment called “Body Sonic,” a sensory sound system that allows people with hearing impairments to feel music through vibration. In addition, various support was introduced for this performance with the cooperation of each company, such as “Mobile Connect”, a system that can adjust the volume and sound quality according to each hearing characteristic using a smartphone application.

Actually, on this day, a viewing support equipment experience meeting was held for performance production staff, cultural facility / group staff, and local government staff, and I will be able to experience it as well.
In particular, “Body Sonic” is impressed by the fact that there is almost no time lag in the experience! “Mobile Connect” was a simulated experience while imagining how hearing aids and cochlear implant users would hear, but it seems very convenient to be able to freely adjust not only the volume of the sound but also the ease of listening to the bass and treble with the app. bottom.

Regarding the audience seats, it was adjusted so that about 70% of the total would be filled. Mr. Sugiyama reveals the intention as follows.

“Admission restrictions for corona measures have also been lifted, and in consideration of sales, I was able to fill 100% of the audience seats if I wanted to fill it. However, I was nervous when others were nearby. Some people will end up, so I decided to vacate a seat between the customers.
Speaking of ingenuity of seats, in addition to your own reserved seats, you can also use seats near the doorway called “evacuation seats”. Although it is a performance where you can freely enter and exit the hall, I hope that the psychological resistance to entering and exiting will be further reduced. ”

“There are many people with disabilities who are having a hard time going out. Even so, they come all the way with the expectation that they will be able to enjoy the concert themselves with” Relax Performance “. We want our customers to relax as much as possible and enjoy high-quality music, “says Sugiyama, who talks about his thoughts on the performance. It was said that all preparations were from that heart.

A state of the performance wrapped in a laid-back sense of unity

Before the performance starts at 14:00, children run around the audience seats, and there are people who start laughing out loud because of tension or excitement. It was a very rough atmosphere, and I already realized that the atmosphere was completely different from the classical music concerts I had experienced so far.

The performance was performed by five talented young artists who will lead the Japanese music world in the future.

The piano is Kaito Kobayashi, who won the second prize in the 11th piano category at the Tokyo Music Competition held every year at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. String Quartet is everyone of the group “HONO quartet” that the 9th string department # 1 of Moeno Kishimoto pressurized’s et al. Was formed.

(First violin: Pressurized Moeno Kishimoto’s, the second violin: HayashiAmaneMasashi’s, Viola: Takeshi Nagata, cello: Kanie Keigyo’s)

During the performance, Shiori Sakurai, the workshop leader of the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, who conveys the joy and enjoyment of music and connects people with music, appears on the stage as a navigator. By explaining each song and inserting simple activities, we will liven up the progress so that even small children can watch the performance without getting tired until the end.

The songs played on the day are as follows.
In order to convey the charm of classical music such as the piano quintet, we are conscious of the tone of each instrument and the fact that this instrument can be played like this, and from each genre so that both beginners and advanced players can be satisfied. It seems that the songs were selected evenly.

 

With the first song “Promenade” and the second song “Salut d’Amour”, and the gentle songs that were famous from the beginning, the audience couldn’t concentrate. Many people may have been confused about how to deal with the unfamiliar performance format. (The same was true for the author)

However, as soon as I entered the third song “Atom Hearts Club Quartet” by the string quartet, the atmosphere until then changed completely. Cool sound with a sense of speed. The movement of the strings that dance violently and sometimes cut the wind. The performers also seemed to be starting the engine, and I felt that the consciousness in the hall was quickly concentrated on the stage.

In particular, the jerky and boogie-style rhythm of the 4th movement seemed to catch the hearts of the audience, and the girl who had been just looking around the audience seats until then was screaming with her hands rolling. It’s impressive.

The seventh song “Moonlight” by piano solo is the most moist and quiet song in this performance. It was a time when the buzz of the audience was noticeable, but thanks to Mr. Kobayashi’s outstanding playing technique, which made the listeners imagine the scene richly, I was immersed in the world of sound without losing my concentration.

I thought I knew the purpose of “relaxing performance” in my head, but for a while after the performance actually started, every time a loud voice or clapping sound echoed in the hall, I felt uneasy. was.

Perhaps because I had experience watching general classical music concerts, I was worried about “Is this okay?” And “What should I do if there is a problem between the audience?”

However, I feel relieved that everyone accepts everything loosely. If you can divide it by saying, “That’s what it is,” you’ll get used to the noise and be ready to enjoy playing. By the end of the day, the audience seemed to be satisfied with the hall, and it was 60 minutes that I realized that “this kind of concert is also good”.

Not all concerts should take this form of performance, but one of the options.

It is not suitable when you want to concentrate 100% on music, but there are many people who want to choose “relaxing performance” when they want to face music naturally and feel the music in their relationships with people. must.

 

When I asked the boy about 5 years old and his mother who loved the classical music that he was visiting, he said, “‘Moonlight’ was the best” and “I want to come again!”. The mother also smiles, “I’m always careful to keep quiet at the concert! But today’s performance is slow and the children can relax and listen.”

According to Mr. Sugiyama, many joyful voices were received from parents with children with disabilities.

“I was really impressed today because I had given up on going to a classical concert with my son with a disability. I couldn’t stop crying from the first song.”

“I was happy that my child, who was always listening to the performance from the monitor in the lobby, was able to watch it in the hall for the first time today.”

It shows how the “relaxing performance” performance could be an invaluable experience for people with disabilities and their families.

The challenge of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan has just begun

The “Relax Performance” performance is scheduled to be held every year in the future, so as long as we can’t wait for the next one.
Finally, Mr. Sugiyama talks about the significance of the performance.

“I learned from a special school that there are opportunities for cultural institutions and artists like us to go to school, but as soon as we graduate from school, art and cultural things It seems that many people are away from the school.

When I wanted to touch something musical, I received an urgent voice saying that I had no choice but to go to karaoke so as not to bother others.

If you think about it, we have been planning for various groups such as concerts for preschoolers and workshops for children from the age of zero, but there are plans that feature adults with disabilities. I didn’t.

I want to create a place where such people and their caregivers and their families can come with peace of mind without worrying about the eyes around them. The reason for this performance was that we wanted you to enjoy the real thrill of music not only with your eyes and with your ears, but also with a sense of distance that you can hear the sound from your skin. I feel that this is the mission of our hall, which is a public cultural facility.

The “Relax Performance” initiative has just begun. We are gradually powering up not only the content but also the system for delivering information and the system for welcoming you.

Now it’s time for everyone to come and teach us a lot. It’s a performance that reflects everyone’s voice more and more, so if you are interested, please consider watching it. ”

Outline of “Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Relaxing Performance-Concerts that can be enjoyed across generations and obstacles-“

Date and time	Wednesday, November 3, 2021 14: 00-15: 00
venue	Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Small Hall
Ticket price	Flat rate 1,100 yen * Target age 4 years and over
Organizer	Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Arts Council Tokyo
Special cooperation	Sennheiser Japan Co., Ltd., Pioneer Corporation, Furuno Systems Co., Ltd.
inquiry	Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Business Section 03-3828-2111 (Representative)
Official homepage	https://www.t-bunka.jp/

 

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