もう一つの万博プラットフォーム in 沖縄: 2005年3月12日 at 沖縄国際大学前洋食店「パブロ」

Another Expo Platform in Okinawa: March 12, 2005 at the Restaurant "Pablo" in front of Okinawa International University

Panelist

Shinya Watanabe(Spiky Art Curator)
Titus Spree (Artist, Adjunct Professor of University of the Ryukyu)
Chikako Yamashiro (Artist, Adjunct Professor of University of the Ryukyu)

The platform was held in front of Okinawa International University, where US Military Helicopter from Futenma Air Base Crashed

(Photos by Takeshi Oyadomari; Thanks!)

Restaurant "Pablo" Thanks a lot!

The performance of the daughter of Mr. Tanaka before the platform start

Shinya Watanabe, a curator talks about the history of Expo

Titus talking about the process of the creation of Germany

Titus talking and listening audiences

Titus made Mao Ishikawa, an phothographer, laughing�

Chikako Yamashiro talks about her works

Mr. Tanaka, the owner of Pablo and other listners

Yamashiro explaining her video works

Platform participants listning carefully...

On March 12, 2005, the first "Another Expo" Platform in Japan, following the one in the United States, was performed in Okinawa in a very comfortable and homey atmosphere. I was worried that we are 20 minutes late from the start time of a platform, but no one cared about it. I guess this is because of the atmosphere which Okinawa has.

Around 40 persons gathered to the restaurant, and some people could not sit on a chair. In this situation, the platform started peacefully. At the opening performance, the daughter of the restaurant owner Mr. Tanaka played Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with violin, and then, panelist's presentations and discussion started.

I used digital projector, and started to talk from what is curator, and why I became curious about the issue of the nation-state, and also why I wanted to have this platform, which aims at having the show discussing the issue of the nation-state, in Okinawa.

I mentioned that the history of the nation-state formation interlocked with the Expo and Olympics in world history, and played the movie of Osaka Expo 1970. Then, I mentioned that during Aichi Expo 2005, the second international exposition in Japan, to think about the issue of the nation-state both in Japan and the world is essential, and also by having this platform from Okinawa, I can reflect something which I learned in Okinawa, in the other platforms which will be held in mainland Japan.

One of the panelist Titus Spree is an artist who was born in Germany and spent his childhood in Canada and the United States. Therefore, he has experienced the inside/outside issue of the nation-state from his childhood. His presentation by PowerPoint started from a story and a photo of his childhood, at his kindergarten time in Toronto, Canada. He said that in this kindergarten, many different races, different cultures and language had been mixed. His such backgrounds motivated him to concern about Asia, and that’s why he moved to Turkey and Tokyo to develop his activity as an artist, and then, he arrived at Okinawa.

Also his intelligible presentation by PowerPoint which showed the process of national formation of German was the best opportunity for the people who are not familiar with Europe to understand the border problem and identity problem in Europe.

His presentation which includes his personal history was sufficient to understand the relation with his art work, which is tiny movable office called “micro office” which is made by only one Tatami mat. He questions the concept that man owns land and the idea of nativity, but because of his excellent presentation, we could understand that these questions of him have close relationship with his personal history.

Ms. Chikako Yamashiro, an artist who works in Okinawa, explained her trilogy video work called “Okinawa Tourist” with showing the videos. "The Graveyard Eisa" was the performance that the young men dance Eisa (Okinawa Traditional Dance) with wearing the paper bag on their heads, in front of Okinawan traditional "tortoise shell grave," which symbolizes the tradition of Okinawa.

Although Eisa were traditionally performed primarily as a dance for comforting the ancestral soul as well as the “Bon Odori” of mainland Japan on the occasion of the Bon Festival in August, the performance has been arranged for sightseeing, and Ms. Yamashiro somehow felt uncomfortable for that. Therefore, she made bold as to arrange that the men dance in front of the “tortoise shell grave,” which can also be called symbol and the root of Okinawa.

Since the young men who have the rhythm of Eisa in their body were covered with a paper bag and dance Eisa, the formation of the Eisa collapsed. In this video, there was a glimpse of the message of the artist, toward the current situation of Okinawa which does not have a clear vision.

The 2nd video work called “Trip to Japan,” the artist performs sightseeing PR of Okinawa in front of the Japanese Diet building, and in the 3rd video is called "I Like Okinawa Sweet," the artist Yamashiro herself leaning on the fence of the U.S. Military Base and continues eating many ice creams of the “Blue Seal” brand, which is know for their catchphrase “Born in the U.S. and grown up in Okinawa” under the sun of midsummer. In all of the works which she showed, there was a glimpse of the present condition of Okinawa and a sense of distance with mainland Japan. Also the works itself were pretty high-quality.

The interesting thing is that many Okinawan people questioned Ms. Yamarhishiro directly about her works. The critical view toward Yamashiro on the theme of the tradition and the present condition of Okinawa was both gentle and severe, and I could tell that crossing contemporary art and traditions and current situation in Okinawa is not easy. Moreover, probably because the system of fine art had not been established in Okinawa unlike Tokyo or New York, many questions of the participants were seen rather opinion than the criticism toward an artwork.

Since the theme “Okinawa,” the complex one, was discussed, I had been worried whether the people in Okinawa might ask me something very severe. However, the participants did not ask me something severe, and it was also unexpected.

When I began a presentation, firstly I stated like this. "I came here in Okinawa to accept your anger. I, a human being of Yamato, the man from mainland Japan, state the work of Okinawan artist in the framework called a nation-state problem, and exhibit in New York. I understand that it is quite ridiculous. However, I, as a curator, want to make more people, more familiar with both culture and the present condition of Okinawa."

There is a possibility that this first speech of mine led to an understanding of Okinawan people. After the platform, I asked some people, and they told me that the participants of the platform already have similar opinions, and that’s why the participants did not have an objection. It made me relieved, but also it was regrettable that I did not have an opportunity to hear the opinion of people with different ideas.

In the Industrial Exposition of the year Meiji 36 (1905), the year that the Ryukyu (old name of Okinawa) Disposal was done, the so-called "Human-Beings Pavilion Incident" in which two women from Ryukyu (Okinawa) were displayed by the section called Scientific Human-Beings Pavilion happened, and after that, the position of Okinawa in Japan has changed so frequently.

Now, there are some positive image of Okinawa such as “the island of healing" and "Churasan (TV drama show about Okinawa)” spread, but these positive images are created by the system of consumerism, and the diversity of Okinawa has been erased, and because of Japan-US Security Treaty, Okinawa experienced such a severe years.

Aichi Expo 2005 is the first International Expo for Okinawa, after the return of Okinawa to Japan in 1972. In this opportunity, I hope that more opportunities to think about the problem which Okinawa faces, will be held in mainland Japan.

At the end, I want to say thank you very much to the restaurant “Pablo” for having this platform. Thank you very much.