EXPO PLL Talks
EXPO PLL Talks
<Archive video released>
Oussouby SACKO EXPO PLL Talks
"Art & Impact: Thinking about the Post-EXPO World with Innovators" vol.8
Daisuke Suzuki, general producer of "Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival" and CEO of Artlogue Inc., welcomes guests active in various fields, including art and creativity, in the Expo PLL Talks series. This time, he spoke with Usbi Sakho, vice president of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, about the realization of a "co-creation society" from the perspective of diversity, and considered the society he hopes to achieve after the 2025 World Expo and the potential of art.
Oussouby SACKO talks about "Going Beyond Misunderstandings to Co-Create: The World Expo and the Future Society"
1. Please tell us about your connection with Japan and your current activities.
I was born and raised in the Republic of Mali in West Africa. I went to China at the age of 19, studied abroad for six years, and then came to Japan 33 years ago. Since then, I have been based in Kyoto. Although I specialize in architecture, I am more interested in the relationship between "people and space" and "culture and space" than in the buildings themselves, and have continued my research from a unique perspective called "spatial anthropology." I analyze local communities, communities, and housing from a cultural anthropological perspective, and explore how space creates relationships between people.Currently, I am active in many areas in Japan, including architecture, urban development, education, and international exchange. In particular, in recent years, I have been deeply involved in the "host town project" that connects Urahoro Town in Hokkaido with my hometown, the Republic of Mali. I am working to build new relationships between Japan and Africa through various projects, such as exchanges between junior high school students in Urahoro and Malian children, and learning together through local festivals and agriculture. I believe that building "face-to-face relationships" that transcend differences in nationality and culture is an activity that is necessary for the future of society.
2. What kind of society do you hope to create through the Expo?
What I am strongly conscious of at the Expo is to make it a place to clear up misunderstandings. For example, with African cuisine and culture, and Japanese culture, overseas, the image takes precedence, and the essence is often not conveyed. I found a sushi restaurant called "SUSHI TIME" in Senegal, and they served milk tea, yakitori, gyoza, and California rolls. The owner believes that is "Japanese sushi." The Expo will be an opportunity to clear up such "preconceptions" and "misunderstandings" and experience the real thing.In addition, this Expo will have a system in place called the "Common Pavilion," where multiple countries will exhibit together. This is a space based on the spirit of the "commons," operated through dialogue and co-creation without an administrator; I proposed the name. When people with different cultures and values interact in the same space for half a year, friction naturally arises. However, it is this "gap" that becomes the starting point for co-creation. The ability to accept and adjust differences, rather than eliminate them. I believe that such a "society that nurtures relationships" is the value we need after the Expo.
3. What do you want to convey to Japanese society through your exchanges with Africa?
Africa is currently undergoing rapid change. The urban population is growing at an annual rate of 3-6%, and in some areas, the exact opposite phenomenon to that in Japan's regional cities is occurring. Meanwhile, Japan's regional areas are experiencing serious population decline, with some areas, such as Urahoro Town, experiencing such a decline in the number of young people that high schools are being closed. I believe that bridging these "demographic gaps" will create new possibilities.For example, agriculture. Agriculture in Japan and Africa is very different in scale and methods, but by exchanging techniques and ways of thinking, we can build a relationship where we can learn from each other. I took farmers from Hokkaido to Mali and had them inspect the local agricultural sites. There, middle-aged women are processing one ton of mackerel a day. Even the Japanese people were amazed by their power and dynamism.
We are also conducting a project to listen to children's dreams. Mali's children talk about their dreams in their own words, such as "I want a field," "I want a hospital," and "I want a home." These words are filled with social issues and future possibilities. We feel that through our involvement with Africa, Japan will also have an opportunity to reexamine "how we envision our own future."
4. As a researcher of spatial anthropology, what do you find fascinating about the “living spaces” of Japan and Africa?
I have been researching the "courtyards" of the Republic of Mali for many years. Up to 72 people live in one courtyard. They live together, including people who are not related by blood, causing trouble to each other and making compromises. There, "moderate inconvenience" acts as a lubricant for society, and it is precisely because there are small troubles every day that a culture of caring and consideration for others has taken root. I found this very fascinating.Japan has a similar spatial culture. The distance and relationships between people are revealed in seemingly inconspicuous actions, such as the even spacing of townhouses in Kyoto and the Kamo River, and the custom of sprinkling water on buildings. For example, the extent to which people sprinkle water on buildings can reveal the strength of their relationships with their neighbors.
I have quantitatively investigated the behavior of these spaces and visualized them on a computer to interpret the "relationships that space tells." Space is not just a physical framework; it is deeply connected to people's activities. What kind of space do we live in, and how do we live there? I believe that culture emerges and the future of the community becomes clear.
5. What do you think will be needed in Japanese education and society in the future?
I feel that there are few opportunities for children to have their own voice in Japanese education. The current education schedule is packed with students, and there seems to be not enough room to slowly observe their surroundings or think about who they are. When you ask children to "dream," they are confused at first, but when they express their true feelings, something very deep emerges. We need an educational system that can pick up on those dreams.Also, when I appeared on TV some time ago, the caption read "Black college student." I don't think it was malicious, but the choice of words can make a big difference in how people perceive you. In a society where diverse people live together, it is very important to be sensitive to what you communicate and how you communicate it.
In today's society, where division is increasing, I believe that education has a big role to play. I teach classes that involve repeated "self-introductions" and "introductions to others." By knowing who you are and what the other person is like, you can build a foundation for relationships. I hope that education will not just convey knowledge, but also foster the "ability to relate."
6. Finally, what are your expectations for the upcoming World Expo and Japanese society?
I want the Expo to be a place for experiences and a place to re-knit relationships. It's important not just to look at the exhibits, but to create a space as a participant, interact with others, and create together. In the "Common Pavilion" that will be installed at the Expo site, people from different countries will spend every day together for half a year. There will be friction, but I believe that trust and empathy will be born from that.I want the Expo to be a place to broaden one's horizons, especially for the younger generation. As a crossroads of cultures and encounters that transcend borders, the Expo is not just an event, but a place of living learning. I hope that many young people will experience these connections in this space, called the "Commons," and spin their own stories.
We also want to put the spotlight on the voices of women and children at this Expo. We are also planning a space like the "Women's Pavilion" as a place to pick up the voices of those who are hard to see in society. We want to move towards a society where the thoughts of those who live quietly are heard, rather than just the strongest voices standing out. We want to start taking that first step with the Expo.
*The contents of this article are based on excerpts and summaries from the video. There may be some differences in expression and nuance, so we recommend watching the full video to confirm accurate information.
Event Overview
Date and time: Monday, August 26, 2024, 15:00-16:00
Venue: Minato Ward Industrial Promotion Center "HOST TOWN FESTIVAL 2024" Art Co-Creation Room
Oussouby SACKO (Vice Chairman of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Former President of Kyoto Seika University)
Moderator: SUZUKI Daisuke (CEO of ARTLOGUE Inc., General Producer of Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival)
Participation fee: Free
Organizers: Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, ARTLOGUE Inc.
Profile
Oussouby SACKO
Vice Chairman of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Former President of Kyoto Seika University
Suzuki Daisuke
Born on Culture Day, November 3, 1977. Founded his own company after working on a research project at the Global COE of the Urban Research Plaza of Osaka City University. Winner of the Good Design Award in 2014, finalist in the 2015 Kyoto University GTEP Program (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), and winner of the OIH Award for Global Innovation at the 2016 Miraino Pitch (business contest: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Kinki Bureau of Telecommunications). Aiming to create the world's largest "Osaka Kansai International Art Festival" on the occasion of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, "Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival" will be held from 2022.
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