A site specific installation made around Kagami-ga-ike, an old spiritual pond in a tiny Nakao village in the mountainous area of Niigata prefecture, known for heavy snowfalls in winter.
During the winter period, I visited the 22 remaining households in the village to ask them about their life and also collected some old daily commodities including containers made of wood or straw. I cast those items, which would otherwise have fallen into decay, then placed a mirror inside each inspired by name of the pond (kagami means mirror), on which the memorable words by the villagers were engraved.
19 pieces were scattered around the pond, surrounded by beautiful nature. In a hut standing next to the pond I exhibited a video work of nature in the village and smiles, voices and words of the villagers, which was shot throughout the year. This is a work for the audience to search for in the nature, while listening to villagers’words and the nature.
this surface. 19 of these sculptures referencing the daily lives of hamlet residents are scattered around the pond and the nearby shrine. During the exhibition, I installed a video near the pond which highlighted the nature of the area and the smiles of the local villagers. Experiencing both the sculptures and the video, visitors are encouraged to appreciate the daily reality of this snowy hamlet.

Period: 26 July ~13 September, 2009
Erea: Echigo-Tsumari Region 760 km² (Tokamachi city, Tsunan Town Niigata, Japan)
Material:Aluminum casting, Paint, Stainless steel, Steel, Concrete block
Photo：Sebastien Ryer, Kyoco Taniyama