A work recording a child at the heart of the home, who lived while bearing wounds.

The reason for choosing “園” (garden) instead of “天国” (Heaven) is that “園” conveys meanings such as “a place where people gather and enjoy themselves” and “a garden for recreation.” This choice was made with the hope that, even in a short life, moments of joy would continue.

For the creation of this work, ready-made infrastructure materials available at Japanese home centers were used. The assembly was completed solely through adhesion, without inflicting any damage. The title of the work incorporates an anagram of the “location of the wound” (municipality code), “date of passing,” and “age,” and these details were also recorded on Google Maps. This was an attempt to reduce the transience of the event and preserve it as a memory.

With the hope of keeping this memory alive, and while being mindful of those involved, I also submitted the work to a Japanese public art exhibition. However, in Japan, bricolage—an artistic approach that combines ready-made materials—is often regarded as lacking artistic value, and the concept itself was not recognized.

This felt like a reflection of the deeply rooted lookism in contemporary society.

Wishing for this work to be acknowledged as art, I have been adjusting and adding statements every 100 days since its initial release. This decision carries the intent of signifying that, while the “Hyakkahōyō” (a Buddhist memorial service held 100 days after passing) marks a milestone, the sorrow still continues.

Announcing 33 conceptual art pieces.

「天園（てんえん）」は、家の中心である子供が、傷を負いながらも生きていたことを記録した作品である

園には「集まり楽しむ場所」「遊楽の庭」という意味があり、短い生涯であっても、楽しい時間が続くようにという思いを込めた

制作には、日本のホームセンターで入手できるインフラ用のレディメイド素材を使用し、傷をつけることなく接着のみで組み立たて、作品のタイトルには「傷を負った場所（市町村コード）」「命日」「年齢」をアナグラムとして組み込み、Google Mapにも記録をした。これは出来事の一過性を薄め、記憶にする試みでもある

その記憶を願い、関係者への配慮をしつつ公募展にも応募をしたが、日本では、レディメイドを組み合わせたブリコラージュは芸術性が低いと見なされ、コンセプトも評価されることはなかった

それは、ルッキズムが根強い現代を象徴するかのようにも感じた

この作品が芸術として評価されることも望み、最初の公開から100日ごとにステートメントを調整している。これは「百箇日法要（ひゃっかにちほうよう）」が一区切りとされる一方で、悲しみがなお続いていることを示す意図でもある

コンセプチュアルアート、33点を発表

Category / Sculpture, Photography
Technique / Mixed Media
Photo / Yudai Nakaya
Release / 2024

Owner / Private Collection