RIKUZENTAKATA ARTIST –IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM 2013
JAIME JESUS COMENDADOR PACENA II / PHILIPPINES
Whispers from the Mountain and the Sea:
From the initial research last November and December 2013, upon talking to several local residents,
the story of an invisible division among the city was told, that the city of Rikuzentakata has two parts,
the people living on the mountain side and the people living on the sea side, both parts that composes
a community that celebrate life together before the tsunami incident and hopes to renew that bond
once again.
The concept of whisper is based on the idea on how Japanese people tend to silently move on, quietly
screaming their pain of memories and going through day by day with struggles on resources and definite
future as most of the people lives temporarily in the present, temporary homes, temporary communal
spaces, temporary structures, temporary meetings and engagements.
When we whisper, we silently say something important, something we don’t want everyone to hear,
but hoping everyone would understand. A whisper is a gentle approach in making a statement. A whisper
on this case is a floating memory.
To reimagine the space, part of my process is to look at the city in different physical perspectives,
going to the highest point (Hikami Mountain) and from the perspective of the sea (Hirota Bay), looking
at the city as the waves of sea approach the land. Another part of the process is to catch the sunrise
as it wakes up the city in the Hakone Mountain View Point. These perspectives in looking at the city
helps me internalize more the stories told to me by the local residents, to imagine the place before
and to realize what has happened and what was left.
POSTCARD PROJECT:
Gathered still images of the research process, details of the hiking experience, the sailing experience and
documentation of the reconstruction of the city. The Images focused on the textures, traces, details,
not showing any people.
Chosen images were then transformed into postcards.
The idea of the postcard is also based on my observation in Japan having a “postcard culture,” just like the
business card culture. Postcards are part of sharing a certain place, an event, exhibition, a company
or a personality. Postcards are used by people to send personal messages, intimate messages that are
connected to the experience or memory of the sender to the image on the postcard.
The printed postcards are then shared to the local residents as I gathered personal messages for the
city of Rikuzentakata. A message for the city that was washed away, to the people that was lost
and to the spirit that lives on today. With this process, the local residents and other visitors of the city
who participated silently engages with the city, looking at the details of the images on the postcard
and trying to relive or reimagine what it is and where it is. Upon writing the message, they revisit
the past and share their thoughts for the future, the written messages are then read by the next
participants and this process connects them to each other as they read the messages for them
by other people. This makes the postcards as vessels of communication among the people and the city.
After gathering all the messages it is then offered/sent to the sea and the mountain.
The whole process started January and ended February of 2014.
“CONNECTED SPACES”
Jaime Jesus C. Pacena II / PHILIPPINES
RIKUZENTAKATA ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM 2013
This video shows a first person point-of-view of the artist as he explores different spaces and places in Rikuzentakata City.
Going through doors upon doors of restaurants, shops, public spaces, temporary homes, bathroom, toilets
and portalets, accommodation, construction place and traces of the tsunami incident. The artist hopes to connect all these
places together, breaking the idea of distance and inviting the people of Rikuzentakata to be a part of this one continuous
journey of connection and co-existence.
*This video was shown in 8 different spaces in Rikuzentakata City
1. Waiwai Restaurant, Osumitsudoinooka Market Place, Takata-Cho
2. Yagisawa Shop, Kesen-Cho
3. Bricks.808, Mirai Market Place, Takekoma-Cho
4. Mauis Restaurant, Takekoma-Cho
5. Yonesaki Cummunity Hall, Yonesaki-Cho
6. Rikuzentakata City Library, Takekoma-Cho
7. Haikara Gohan, Yonesaki-Cho
8. Nagahora Village, Hirota-Cho
Spaces featured in this video:
Mauis Hotel
Rikuzentakata City Library
Teiichi Sato’s Seed Shop
Bricks.808
Takata Driving School
Genki Village
Hikara Gohan
Naskashi-Mirai Soso
Lodge Hotel
Gymnastic Hall/Soccer field
Wai Wai Restaurant
Construction Company Temporary Space
Temporary Residence with Coffee House
Udon Place
Hikami Taikan Practice Place
Construction Area
Abe-san’s Temporary Residence
Mauis Restaurant
Futamata Bathroom
Family Mart
Kono’s Greenhouse near Apple Road & Hikara Gohan
Maiya
Futamata
Chinese Restaurant
Tapic 45
Soya Shop
Naoshi Sato’s House
Apartment Ruins
Lawson
Miracle Pine Tree
“WHISPERS FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SEA”
Rikuzentakata Artist-in-Residence Program 2013 featuring a live presentation of video projections by artist-in-residence J.Pacena II from the Philippines in collaboration with a music performance by Rikuzentakata City’s very own Singer-Song writers Mat-san and Genta-san.
February 15, 2014 /3:00pm – 4:30pm (Japan Time)
You may view the event here via live stream:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/whisper-from-the-mountain-and-the-sea
Mirai Market Place, Takekoma-Cho, Rikuzentakata City, Japan.
………………………………………………………..
フライヤーのダウンロードはこちらから→RIKUZENTAKATA LIVE
フィリピンの映像作家と陸前高田のミュージシャンによる特別ライブ
“山と海のささやき”
WHISPERS FROM THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SEA
◯2014年 2 月15日(土) 15:00 – 16:30
陸前高田市未来商店街多目的ホール 入場無料
フィリピンの映像作家ハイメ・パセナによる撮影された陸前高田の 映像と、陸前高田のミュージシャンによる特別ライブを開催します。 ハイメ・パセナが撮影した陸前高田の自然の風景、氷上山や広田湾 や工事現場の様子、津波の震災跡地、震災前の陸前高田の個人のホーム ビデオから作られた映像をライブとともに上映します。出演するミュー ジシャンは、陸前高田のギタリストのまっと、キーボードの松本玄太です。 入場無料ですので、是非お越し下さい。
またこのライブは USTREAM でも配信いたします
(http://www.ustream.tv/channel/whisper-from-the-mountain-and-the-sea)
◯出演者
ハイメ・C・パセナⅡ世（映像）
まっと（災害FMパーソナリティ。陸前高田出身ギタリスト）
松本玄太（SAVE TAKATAで活動中。ゴスペルアーティスト、ピアニスト）
-January 25, 26 and
Rikuzentakata: Artist in Residence Program 2013
The scenery of memories, towards a nostalgic future
http://air-rukuzentakada.jpn.org/home/?page_id=5
DANCE: SIONED HUWS
“TAKATA WINTER FESTIVAL”
The Dance with Hasegawasangennkai directed by Sioned Huws in Collaboration with traditional music and dance of Rikuzentakata
February 2, 2014
Mirai Market Place, Takekoma-Cho, Rikuzentakata City, Japan
PHOTOGRAPHY: LEO VAN DER KLEIJ
“RIKUZENTAKATA DAILY LIFE 2014”
A series of photographs showing the daily life in current Rikuzentakata City, exhibited in a temporary blue container at Mirai Market Place in Takekoma-Cho. The exhibition is changed day by day as the artist adds and replaces images based on his daily engagement and observation along the city.
-January 31 to February 16, 2014 /10:00am – 8:00pm
The Blue Prefab, Mirai Market Place, Takekoma-Cho, Rikuzentakata City, Japan
MULTI MEDIA: JAIME C. PACENAII
“CONNECTED SPACES”
A video that shows a first person point-of-view of different spaces and places in Rikuzentakata City as the artists enters and exit doors upon doors of restaurants, shops, public spaces, temporary homes, bathroom, toilets, accommodation, constructions and traces of the tsunami incident. Connecting all these places together in a one continuous journey and can be viewed in different public spaces along Rikuzentakata City.
-February 10 to 16, 2014 /11:00am – 12:00mn
Waiwai Restaurant, Osumitsudoinooka Market Place, Takata-Cho
-February 10 to 16, 2014 /9:00am – 5PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
Yagisawa Shop, Kesen-Cho
-February 10 to 16, 2014 /11:00am – 3:00pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
Bricks.808, Mirai Market Place, Takekoma-Cho
-February 10 to 16, 2014 /11:30am – 2:00pm & 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Mauis Restaurant, Takekoma-Cho
-February 10 to 16, 2014 /9:00am – 4:00pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Yonesaki Cummunity Hall, Yonesaki-Cho
-February 11 to 16, 2014 /9:00am – 5:00pm
Rikuzentakata City Library, Takekoma-Cho
-February 11 to 16, 2014 /11:00am – 3:00pm & 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Haikara Gohan, Yonesaki-Cho
-February 11 /1:00pm – 3:00pm
Nagahora Village, Hirota-Cho
“WHISPERS FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND THE SEA”
A live presentation of video projections by J.Pacena II showing details of the natural environment, the daily constructions, some traces of tsunami and collected personal home videos before March 2011 of local residents of Rikuzentakata City. This is in collaboration with a music performance by Rikuzentakata’s very own Singer-Song writers Mat-san and Genta-san.
February 15, 2014 /3:00pm – 4:30pm (Admission is Free)
Mirai Market Place, Takekoma-Cho, Rikuzentakata City, Japan
ARTIST TALK “LEO VAN DER KLEIJ × JAIME C. PACENAII”
February 16, 2014 /10:00am – 12:00nn
The Blue Prefab, Mirai Market Place, Takekoma-Cho, Rikuzentakata City, Japan
Directed, Edited, Composited and Colored by me, J.Pacena II (Cheers!)
1. Asia Art Archive – Artists Talks/Philippines:Surrounded by Water in Cubao, Mag:net Katipunan and Future Prospect in Cubao Expo. Supervised by Mervs Espina. 2011 (Tape to Data File Conversion)
2. Mark Salvatus‘ Territories Exhibition at Ateneo Art Gallery: 2012 (Video and Audio Editing and Visual Effects Supervision)
Assigned Artist: Jocelyn Ramos and Carlo Holganza
3. Bliss Market: Exchange in Time | Space of Transience – Curatorial Project / U.P. Jorge Vargas Museum and U.P. BLISS Diliman, Q.C / Curatorial Team: Jaime Pacena II and Katrina Stuart Santiago /2012
4. Tutok Engaging Publics: Shifts in Socially Engaged Art Practice / U.P. Diliman, Q.C. / 2013 (Video Documentation and Editing)
Assigned Artist: Angelo John Borcelis and Miguel Amurao
5. Blanc Gallery Exhibition Videos/ 2013 (Production and Post Production)
https://vimeo.com/user18653793
Assigned Artist: Sheryl Anne Bajao, Mark Bryan Gonzales, Angelo John Borcelis, Russ Rivera, Jeremiah Villagomez, Ralph Verdida, Mae Dispo, Rizelle Reyes
6. BNK Music Video Project “Laging Nandyan” / Flip Music. 2013 (Video Direction, Production and Post Production)
Assigned Artist: (head) Sheryl Anne Bajao, Mark Bryan Gonzales, Angelo John Borcelis, Art Jardeleza, Russ Rivera, Jeremiah Villagomez, Megan Garinga, Yasaha Estrada, Angelo Agapito, Adonnie Zulueta
7. K.A. Antonio Music Video Project “Beep” / Curve Entertainment. 2013 ((Video Direction, Production and Post Production)
Assigned Artist: (head) Art Jardeleza, Miguel Amurao, Sheryl Anne Bajao, Mark Bryan Gonzales, Angelo John Borcelis, Russ Rivera, Jeremiah Villagomez, Megan Garinga, Yasaha Estrada, Angelo Agapito, Adonnie Zulueta
Any form of coming home, any task that engages with what’s left behind, can only be a narrative of nostalgia. Which is not so much about what’s in the past, as it is an acknowledgement of what’s been erased by the present. For the University of the Philippines Bliss, a housing project now fallen into neglect and forgetting, this present can only be unstable and untenable, where reminiscence is intricately tied to the space’s impending dissolution, which is also about its history as community built on an imagining of the true, good, and beautiful and everything that represents. Layered with communal living changed by the premium put on the private and personal, UP Bliss as such has become space for multifarious silences, ones that make for one symbolic vestige of a past community.
Bliss Market: Exchange in Time | Space of Transience springs from and against this status quo, choosing to intervene upon it towards bringing the community not back to the way it was, but to a remembering of how it can (still) be. Inspired by the original Bliss Mart, a grocery in the middle of UP Bliss where the community converged and engaged in various forms of exchange, Bliss Market is also necessarily a tribute to this symbol now only existing as ruins.
Using art as vehicle for reimagining communal activity and living for current times, Bliss Market brings a varied set of artists into UP Bliss to engage with the community, listen to stories about its past, mingle with its quiet, converse with its noise. Art intervention in this sense is not just about site-specificity premised on choosing where to put works, but about coming into creativity given a particular context and history of community. Artist talks and workshops, performances and film showings will engage with UP Bliss by letting it speak about, react to, create from what happens beyond the community’s fences, in the process forcing its members to step out of the private and individual, towards listening to each other and finding familiarity – if not commonality – in these conversations.
As such, Bliss Market’s success and failure is not only immeasurable, it is also irrelevant. Here, in a space that lives off transience, exchange through art can also only be as fleeting. Yet it is also here that an art project such as this can but thrive, where the point is to move from the silences that surround what is lost and what will be lost as a matter of history, towards allowing for a reintroduction, a revival, of UP Bliss. Here, the community will finally speak again, loud and clear, as it regains vibrancy through creativity, as it shares its truths in the mere act of engagement.
Here is nostalgia turned into art, art intervention premised on engagement, engagement grounded in history and context. The one thing that holds water in a time and space of transience, is exchange. Welcome to Bliss Market.
– Katrina Stuart Santiago, May 2012
BMLab 