Artist
Artist
SceNE Project, RIHN
Japan
Memory of the Sea: Kikaijima - The Coral Ark
Kikai Island—a miraculous land formed by the uplift of coral reefs. Coral fossils hold the memory of Earth's environmental changes. This sound and visual installation features Toni/Humura, a traditional potato-washing basin carved from a massive coral stone on Kikai Island, alongside layers of coral stones collected from every village. The installation connects the "now" of Kikai Island to the venue through real-time audio and video, creating an immersive space where visitors can experience the island’s breath of life. By scanning a QR code with their smartphones, visitors can access live footage of the island and visually track real-time changes in seawater temperature, as well as its historical fluctuations. Through the combined experience of touch, sound, and sight, this project aims to bring awareness to climate change and environmental issues, fostering a sense of connection between the local community and the wider world.
Profile
The SceNE project is a transdisciplinary project of the Institute for Integrated Global Environmental Studies (IGES). Based on high-resolution environmental restoration using annual rings of coral, the project aims to create a community that is resilient to environmental change by integrating natural and human memories through art. Based on Kikaijima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, scientists, artists, and local residents collaborate to re-evaluate indigenous knowledge and create new collective knowledge for the future. The project promotes empathy and dialogue toward spontaneous solutions to global environmental problems, viewing them as “our own business."
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Credits
Supported by: KIKAI Institute for Coral Reef Sciences, Kikai Town
[Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival / EXPO PUBLIC ART]
Partner City
Matsubara City
Sponsorship
