Miki Nitadori / May be

false foto gra fie 1

2011-10-10T23:56:00.000+09:00

I am currently interested in false aesthetic created by phone camera. i am attempting to make the most out of pixels and just looking at them, thinking how wonderful it is to make images without typical polaroid look that iphone user are crazy about.
iphone polaroid is better than original polaroid because it is so democratically good.
we don't need to know anything and it will look good.

Mercy and white tiger

2011-08-30T08:02:00.001+09:00

These days, I am back to reading stories which was not the case in last years. It all began when i began reading the book that an elder woman friend gave me she bought for her travels that she finished reading.
Basically since the beginning of July I have been reading novels again.
Mercy was the first book i read by Toni Morrison.
I found this book so tasty in the way that it was written, i read the book in one go. It was so well written that we just need to keep on going, which made me think how some could make words live, and bring readers to the experience further than any film, visualize the place, people and even feel the natural surroundings.
This book is written in a way that we hear the stories from the diverse characters's point of view. It is really interesting to read the same incident viewed in different point of view.

I feel as i want to engrave her message so universal about what is slavery. Slavery is not the condition of selling/ buying of humans that happened in America and europe but it is a state of mind , how we condition ourselves to certain memories and base our selves to the limitation of our own existence.

We are a slave when we are not being who we chose to be but condition our existence to the people's opinions. It speaks of dignity of who we are.

In this book what is unjust is the normality of life and how each person live through their own way, and live through the conditions that changes are inspiration to our day to day life....and this is probably why Toni Morrison is a wonderful writer ...she writes in the compassionate, strong and emotional way that doesn't remain only a fiction but give us courage and inspiration to live our lives, while telling a story of far way land in the 17th century.

Another book that i enjoyed reading was "white tiger" by Aravind Adiga.
If i ask myself what countries writers do i prefer to read....it will be probably the Indian writers....It is mainly due to mystery of the mentality and culture of India evoke me to read them but many writers are so skilled at story telling involving their culture and mentality almost back to back with western countries.
This is not the case for Japanese writers for me.
Even I read many Japanese writers and some have craft of story telling, For me it is not as complexly weaved as Indian context and mentality.

The white tiger has a similar theme to toni morrison's idea of "slavery". But it is written in the way that the condition of people's lives are cruel, even it doesn't attempt to make it sound dramatic ( except the scene of murder) nor something exceptional.
Perhaps the straight forwardness of style of writing makes it more harsh. It has a up beat tempo and enthusiasm as well as humor and somewhere these cruel condition seems like a passing event, even it is not and slowly evolves to other ways of seeing the event by the same person, the white tiger.
What I find it interesting in his book is that rich or poor , they were all in the same context of " slavery" in the sense of always having to pay the consequences of the corrupted , ideologic, multi-religious and surviver's society.

White tiger had chose to become a entrepreneur by killing his ex-patron because he realizes even it is a corrupted society and it is better to be well off than poor.... even rich people needed to pay and be bribed by others.... and through his experience of working for others, he has not treated his employees the way the ex-patron had treated him. In some ways, he was able to live by what he valued after becoming a patron himself.

White tiger's India is amazing because it has such a large force of life as everyone is surviver and even to the extent of people who normally have ideology such as doctors think of themselves first.( surely there are people who do not think this way too but....but this will be considered weakness.)
And even in the family life , it is so strongly tied and people have so much duty to one another.

In western or far east prospective, all that is happening in his story can be considered inhuman or insane but it feels as this is the reality of many countries, Some countries are just good at hiding the non pretty things and attempt to remain "correct".

And in this book, there are kindness, love and humility in relationships and all the opposite feelings such as violence, greed , anger, disgust are also present... not hidden nor beautified.

It is a book of soul scrubbing and adventure in India now days.

Multiculturalism, How can we create a future society?

2011-08-08T01:39:00.002+09:00

What happened in Oslo on July 22, 2011, has marked me as the crime that killed 76 people was operated by one single person, a son of a diplomat. The main theme and ideology of the his actions were based upon anti-multiculturalism and against islamic immigrations.

In my work, one of my interest is looking for the direction towards future world via observing the minor-major state such as Hawaii.

How much the politicians in european countries may say that multiculturalism had failed, the reality is that the world is becoming further mixture of people and there is nothing that can change this direction.

Perhaps stopping it momentary with violence and dictatorship may be possible but the technological economical and historical reality will not be able to stopped or change this direction in the long run.

I have never understood people who had the ideology of mono-culturalism and homogeneity of the race as this is not how any culture has developed and it is only a myth.

It a easy way to control and manipulate people but historically no country has developed by once race influence .

For example Japan will not be what it is today if there was no relationship and immigration from China and Korea. In the" homogenous country like Japan" is made up with different origins and we can not deny Japanese colonialism in Asia.

When we look at Multiculturalism in Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy, we can clearly understand it is based upon recognizing the difference.

In a place like Hawaii after many generation of immigration recognizing the difference seems odd as many immigrant cultures and Hawaiian culture became part of everyone 's culture.

It is normal that people celebrate Chinese new years with Lion dance, attend the may day celebration and dance hula , participate in "toro nagashi",bon dance and eat thanks giving dinner.

So " difference " seems like a taboo word as all culture is co-existing in the society.

But even in Hawaii where everyone lives together and harmoniously , still there is the difference expressed in daily life by people. People express these experience in conversation, in comical way usually because people do not want to do any harm...and there are racism as well, but since everyone is minority there are no real issues.
(Even though Hawaii is a mixture of groups of minorities, mainly the mixture comes from asians and europeans origins. therefore i think more recent immigration community as Latinos and minority within minority such as African descendent in country side may have more difficulty.)

Coming back to Europe, do we need further generations to have a society that people no longer have to worry about difference and accept other culture as their own as much as valuing their culture?

Will it be the only way when countries in europe becomes major minority state that the true multi-culturalism will happen?

As it is possible in Islands like Hawaii and Reunion may be in 10 generations of mixture will make europe evolve?

European history of colonization blocks this passage and keep the culture separated with in the society.

In France, still within the mind of people, the separation is " a way to value other culture" and on the other side "continue the traditional structure based on colonialism".

Therefore it is really difficult for academicians who wants to work in this multicultural aspect of society because people are often defined by their origins even they may live here for the most of their lives.

Multiculturalism at present had failed in many european politicians eyes because they do not want to change the traditional structure from colonialism.

There are many successful people who are from the minority / colonial back ground. But these are people who have a very clear understanding of their position towards their origins and cut clear with these social handicap ( even they may value their cultural heritage.) that has been manipulating many.

But these people are exceptional case even these people may say " If i can do it , everyone can."

I went to Oslo in 2008 for the first time. It was only a 4 day of stay but i was confronted by new immigration and how hard sometimes it can be.
A friend who is from another european country told me how difficult it is to be treated correctly in norway.
She is southern european with light skin and dark hair.
I could relate to her stories as these similar experiences happened to me in France.

My friends in Oslo are cosmopolitan so i did not feel the hostility in their surroundings or as a tourist visiting the country.
I was visiting my friend's studio and walking in the Islamic area of Oslo.
There was a man who asked me for direction and as i had a map and we were going the same direction we walked together for a while.
He was from north africa, one of the ex-colony of France. We spoke French together, he told me that he arrived here 4 days ago to live here. He seemed very cheerful and optimist and we just chatted about weather and how oslo is cold etc. we have parted with friendly smile.

A week later 22 July my friend who has his studio in Islamic part of the town had told us that his neighbor who is an arabic coffee merchant was relieved to know that the killing of 76 people were done by fair haired, light skinned norwegian. I think this the feeling many non-european origin living in europe can relate to.

The story above symbolizes the present european attitude towards non-white immigrants or citizens.

When I went to visit a friend in germany, i asked him, why did he not have any other friend who were minority except another friend and I. I also remarked that my best friend who live in Denmark for over 20 years now are mainly surrounded by other fair skin Danes.
They are cosmopolitan and travelled every where and not at all racist.

Are the nordic countries as their population is small and the immigration from far away land is recent, there are less opportunity to mix with other people of origins?
Or is it the social structure that segments people and not let the meeting happen?

How horribly racist Paris can be sometimes, but we are still lucky as we have many chance to meet and get to know other people.
I think this is because Paris is a very sociable city. We can have a conversation with people on the street, on the public transportation or anywhere.

The only way we can create a better society is by coming into personal contact with others.

We can not change the direction towards multiculturalism that is moving towards the full integration ( as a foreign culture existing in another as their own.) ), even it may take time and even how many people may resist.

Historically with colonialism, people have opened it's doors thinking they may be able to keep the structures of control till now but new immigration, economical reality of balance changing to other non european nations there is no other way then creating another type of multiculturalism( not based on colonialism) in social structures and politics.

No nation can exist without other countries influence and involvement in their country, and this is the only way it can keep evolving.

resistance and somehow attempting to equalize the balance may be the way to recognize change.... but trying to preserve something that is a myth ( unique existence of a race) seem non realistic, as we have been mixing blood and culture for centuries even we may not have been told.

In the proof, most of us are not full blood indigenous people from a land.

I like to end this with a story i heard from a Korean friend.
Once he was walking in front of a supermarket and the french homeless people who were drunk insulted him, called him names and laughed at him because he is asian.
He went shopping and then he came back to the place and offered a bucket of strawberries to the people who insulted him.
They were speech less.

I think he was able to create with the simple gesture something very important for our future society.

Demonstration " get out of nuclear " Paris, June 11 2011 / パリ　脱原発　デモ　６月１１日

2011-06-13T07:59:00.001+09:00

In Paris, there are so many demonstrations for all kinds of causes...almost weekly.

A Parisian friend was shocked when i told her, I never been to any demonstrations in my life.

She has been to demonstrations since she was a baby with her parents and continue to go to them.

In France and especially in some Parisian families, it is cultural to march and participate in social actions.

I being a non-group person, I feel always uncomfortable participating in an organized group actions.

Even i know group is the voice that can have an impact in a society, I have also seen the down fall of group actions that were positive at the beginning.

I was late and i caught up with the March at the beginning of the rue de Turbigo. In front, there were About 200 + Japanese people. May be more, all kinds of age groups. I followed them with a distance. I observed them, heard their slogan in French and Japanese. I stopped and waited for the following groups to pass by to see and feel the general atmosphere. All of the sudden there was a person who ran and started to put the hand made posters such as below.

I continue to follow them and kept observing the people. they were extremely calm , non violent and many of them looked like nice people. I got out my compact camera to take photographs to understand what this was all about as a process of learning.

At the end i was touched by the people, more than anything else. These people took their time to be present for people in Fukushima, thinking of Tchernobyl, our present community and the future generations. I appreciated the people's participation, it was important to see that people cared.

My vision is limited... But to me people's presence were something so reassuring and needed. In our present world of zapping, I think the most important thing is to be present. News changes every second to one subject to another. people are interested in a subjects for only short time. Many people think Fukushima is over and Tchernobyl has been regulated for many years .... even when people find out it is actually worst, they say "what we can do? We are helpless anyways".....which is also a way to avoid the real issues. We prefer to listen and talk about scandals that deals with power, sex and money because it is easier and exiting. We are educated to perceive them with some kind of excitement even they are minor subjects comparing to what is happening to our world. The capitalism rules us in even in intake and out take of the information, stronger people wins .... We prefer to talk about people with fame because it is more fashionable than talking about the real condition of our life. Even the real condition of life, concerns us all, we want to be a winner in liberal economic society so we take the attitude of being stupid or avoid these conversation which feels as a threat to our well-beings of our personal life.

We are often too busy thinking about our own life and being smart but not enough present. I think it is a big lesson i learnt from the people during the demonstration.

Watashitachi-nous

2011-06-09T16:31:00.000+09:00

Watashitachi-Nous is a project that was born out of the disaster in north east Japan that began in March 11. This project is simply about heart, giving what we can to people in Tohoku, to you and to us. The title is to question what does "watashitachi-nous- us" mean?
It is about questioning who we were yesterday, who we are today and who we will be tomorrow. "we" means many things. it represents you and i that consists of more than 2 people, community (from family to local society, country to the world) It represents common experiences, bonds,compassion and meeting.

http://watashitachi-nous.blogspot.com/

La Nouvelle Republique : Combat lycees branly par J.-Y.G.

2011-05-19T16:54:00.002+09:00

Combat opening lycees Branly

2011-05-19T07:20:00.004+09:00

Last Thursday May 12, i went to Châtellerault , poitou-charente to assist an opening of the permanent, installation. I was surprised to see the result of the communication graphic students on the each phrases on the t-shirt that were dynamic and fun.
The students of silkscreen made a set of 6 post cards for Japan.
We were able to continue to make a collect for Japan.
Dancers performed break dance with the t-shirt and at the end each t-shirts were given to the students...and everyone had a t-shirt of another.
With silk screen students we spoken about what is happening in Japan, nuclear energy ,our social responsibility and what they will do in the future.
It was wonderful to see the students again and see them grow. They will finish the school at the end of the month and all will take another step of life.

Link

2011-05-09T08:07:00.000+09:00

Speaking with Myrium in the park... our dialog began with what is happening in Fukushima, how i want to create a discussion concerning this energy i grew up with but have not confronted since the Chernobyl disaster... and as most people i am not informed enough of this disaster that is a present issue still.

Our medias inform us the Buzz of the moment and when the buzz is over, in most people's mind the context is over. We are zapping society. When we enter too deep, our educational signal goes off... don't get too deep in it....to construct we do need to concentrate on main issues....but there are too much influences that breaks our concentration that last maximum of 2 hours. Then it appears again and then it another crisis in the head lines.
In definitive, we can hear personal problems for over 10 yrs, 3 hours a day but have no time to focus on what matters for the world.

But daily people are taking consequences of these incidents , even when media don't talk about it.
Some people think Chernobyl is over...and Fukushima is regulated.
"We don't have the time to think about what is happening in a far away land because it doesn't affects us in our daily life and we need to think of our life first. "
But as the radiation of Chernobyl crossed the french/ german frontiers that the government at the time said it will stop before the frontiers, "Far away disaster" has impact in our life.
It already has... by showing us how our world is so much smaller, seeing in live of what is going on in the other side of the world immediately. How we forget that we actually live in the same context, not so far from nuclear power stations and not knowing how to deal with them, Using them for all comforts as long as we live safely till our time comes.

We have been discussing about these issues for now more than decades but what is the point? Have it moved forward in anyway ?
By discussion, would we be able to change things?
How can we change things?

What is happening in Fukushima is a result of our current social crisis.( even knowing that it was caused by the natural catastrophe.)
This is seen in economic crisis or any condition of life. How everything is costing power prices and we accept many things, too much. This is the way the world functions and if we don't play a part we will struggle.

We can reflect this in many levels of our life today and majority of us is taking the disadvantage for the short term big profit of the few. These few people have the wealth and power and they are also friends that they share their advantage.

If we cut any part of our daily life, this structure is reflected, we are not in the mode for long term construction, but reaching out to the buzz, power and wealth that gives us a superficial accessory (status) rather than thinking of our context... and when people speak of the context it is often out of reach for people who are not specialized.

Our liberal economic society is creating the further gaps between social classes that the past generation fought for. When there were colonies, class society, rules were unfair,cruel,imposed and clear, now we are in time of voluntary slavery, pretending that the equality exist, which is debatable.

Our values are winning for ourselves as we can not beat the richness of the present power generations and became much more individualists than the past generations have been, but also people are more conscious that we are in a mess because of the people in past generation did not take the long term actions.

The dialog between generations falls because of the difference of the condition of life imposed as it has been also for centuries.....yet here with the nuclear power energy, it is much more than another generation have experienced. are we powerless in who we are and say yes to what we know can destroy our social system and our future generations world?

This is also why i think it is important to find another form of dialog between generations to find a link to one another.

Another form of relationships between generations( not family but unknown people at the bases) has the potential to effect changes in our future life.

Combat : Isabelle Blondie

2011-04-30T08:29:00.008+09:00

http://www.dunnoirsibleu.com/f/index.php?sp=liv&livre_id=71

Isabelle Blondie is a writer, my neighbor and a friend.
When I was desperate and felt helpless concerning Japan, she proposed to take this action for me and with me.
This is a post card book, that she wrote based on my work she bought last year.
She wrote this text last summer, for her short stories book but decided to give this for the cause to help people from north east cost of Japan.
She simply said the reason why she is proposing me this text for the action is because if she was in my shoes, she would want others to do the same.

In many action people think money. But sincerely for me it is not money as money sake that is most meaningful, but thoughts that is expressed through actions.

To raise money there is different ways of doing it, selling many small things or selling big things with prestige. We raise money and donate and it is used for the people because they need it.

Money remains the same, despite the quantity and economic reality, it has the same shapes and forms. If we see it through the eyes of artist Sayo senoo, it is beautiful and have a possibility of creating encounters, it is appreciated but abstract .....and it doesn't systematically create a link between us.

Our world turns with this object...not physically but many interaction with others during a day is repeated transaction.

we say, hello, how are you? thank you and have a good day. we may remember what the coffee tasted like, the food we bought,what we sold, objects we acquired and use,monthly salary paid to us, places we live, phone calls we had, movies,exhibitions or concert we saw.... but mostly i remember the faces of people in all these transaction. May be some people become a part of daily life and others forgotten or separated. These experience of life can be hard, frictional or something that change us forever in great ways and opposite.

Despite fear of getting hurt and failing in person to person relationships, I strongly believe in it.

I think Isabelle is one of the most observant and deeply sensitive person i know. We don't see it immediately, as her sensitivity is often hidden in her thoughts. Isabelle is often thinking, sometimes when she is walking, she can walk in front of you but not see you. But when you she sees you, she deeply listens and speaks to you with attentiveness. This quality of deep observation and sensitivity is present in her writing. Her words are clear, patient and very present that floats. She is not the type of person who can do looking and thinking at the same time.She takes in the present and live then think.

This book combat is about our life. Our life between Isabelle and I, Iannis and Kai, her writing, and my art work... our link , our friendship, our dialog and our experience that is universal yet intimate.
It is reality and fiction that jumps between light, the joy of opening a world to one another and to share who we are...to others in France, people in Japan and the rest of the world.

I value actions of all kinds but mostly this kind of action that is shared, intimate and personal that opens up to the world.

I am seeing that this is what is needed in our present world, if we want to continue to live together on this earth.

Merci Isabelle!.. and without Pascal, the editor of the book, it was not possible. This book will officially be out in June 17th and will be sold at book stores... but you can also order directly from the site of the edition. Merci Pascal.

Help team for Japan に参加します。

2011-04-29T16:04:00.000+09:00

今週の土曜日にHelp team for Japanに参加します。
今回の参加は６枚のポラロイドとHelp team JapanからSoatに送る魚募金を続ける予定です。

finally branly

2011-04-28T02:42:00.005+09:00

Fred Jimenez, the silk screen teacher who have been my main collaborator during the residency from autumn 2009 till mid summer 2010, at lycées edouard branly, Châtellerault have finally made it! This is a semi-permanent installation that will be presented in May 12, 2011.
This project was hard and I like to congratulate Fred for his constant presence, insistence, effort and work.

Help team for Japan

2011-04-26T17:39:00.001+09:00

http://helpteamforjapan.com/

東日本災害の中、何も出来ないと言う無力感から、行動を起こして２ヶ月半が経つ。
ブログ等個人的な物を読むと、災害地の人の気持ちはそこにいない人しか解らないとか、災害地の人々に比べたら災害地に居ない私達は辛いなどいっていられないとか。
勿論、言っている事は理解出来るし、もっともだと思う。でも災害地にいないから私達の出来る事はある。そして本当の状態が解らなくても、理解しようとする、そして共にいようと言う気持ちが大切な気がする。
行動は小さくても大きくても良い。ただ人とこの事を話す事でも、募金活動をすることでも、自分の生活の範囲で行動する事が重要な点となってくる。

先週末にhelp team for Japanの佐々木原さんに声をかけて貰い、パリ１１区のフリーマーケットで初めてSOATの為の魚の募金活動をさせてくれた。Help team for Japanの方達に出会え、そして色々な話をして時間を一緒に過ごす事が出来た。普通、皆さんと行動する際、この様なSoatの為に募金をするというのは彼らの方針とは異なる。でも佐々木原さんを初め、このグループはアーチストが多いのでSOATの現在の状況を解ってくれていて、それで今回の参加に声を掛けてくれた。

自分のお金ではないものを扱うというのは複雑な事だ。
フランスでは個人的にその為の銀行の口座を開き、そこから送金となる。
そうするとお金が何処で何に使われて誰から来るという細かい詳細が見えなくなる。
だから細かく連絡をしない限り、個人そして組織が口座を開いたの信頼に問題が出て来る。

私は現在迄、作品を売ったお金を個人的に信頼してくれる人達から預かり、それを送金してきた。自分の方針、色々なNGO /NPOに少しでもお金を送りたいと言う考えから個人的なリスクを背負う事になるかもしれない。でもそれでも良いと思っている。
それは別に私は一般の人間で別に大きい事をしている訳でもなく、小さい事をしていると認識しているからだ。他の人との信頼関係そしてほかの人の気持ちをどう表現できるかが今後の課題になってくると思う。

この様な状態でHelp team for Japan はグループなので、お金をsecours populaireに直接を渡し、それを国境なき子供達（東北の子供達の為に）にそのお金を送って貰うという方法を選んだ。

この災害を通して一番感じる事は、この様な時に巡り合う人達と同じ気持ちで行動を共にする事がどんなに色々な意味で力になる事だ。

佐々木原さんとお互いの感じている事、この様な活動をしていて問題になる点などを話したり、Help team for Japanの他のメンバーといろいろな話が出来る事は、この事が無ければ、出来なかったかもしれない。お互いに話し合う事が一番現在大切な気がする。

このフリーマーケットはなるべく安く、値切りたいという人々の中から、それでも日本の状況を語ってくれる人もいた。
福島の放射能に汚染された水の問題、私個人が非常に心に残った人は私達に対して、
”サルコジ大統領の居るエリーゼの前でこれを行うべきだ”と言う初老の女性。
”あなたにこの事を考えてほしくて今回この活動をしている。サルコジ大統領よりも私達みたいな一般の人にこの事を知ってほしい。”と答えると彼女は黙ってうなずいた。

私達はお金が何が何でも集めてこのような事をしている訳ではない。出来るだけお金を送りたいと思っているが、それ以上にフランスに居る人達に状態を遠き国と考えるのではなく、身近に思ってほしいと思っている。
この災害があり、本当に募金をする事の意味、私達一般人が理解している事とは大きなギャップがある事に気がついた。

Help team for Japan の佐々木原さんを初め、一番中心になって動いているメンバーの方達の出会い本当に色々な事を感じ、分ち合い、話し合うことは私に多くの事を体験させて貰えた。
彼らをこれからも応援したいと思っている。

佐々木原さん、Help team for Japanの皆さん、ありがとう！

山形新聞

2011-04-21T17:17:00.002+09:00

http://yamagata-np.jp/feature/shinsai/kj_2011041600662.php

『東北の造形作家を支援する会』の活動を知ったのは、山形新聞の松田記者の第一の記事から。尊敬するフランスのジャーナリストのClaude Leblancさんから、頂いたアドバイスで今後の作品の販売したお金を美術を通して子供達を支援しているNPOに寄付したらと言われた直後に以下の第一番目の記事を読みました。

http://yamagata-np.jp/feature/shinsai/kj_2011040300086.php

藤原さんは「東北の造形作家を支援する会」の拠点地が地震で災害にあった為、自分の携帯からメッセージに返信してくれた。

現在の災害に対する記事などを読んでいると、避難施設での問題などが出て来ている。
その中で勿論、現地で活躍してくれている赤十字、難民を助ける会等の第一に必要な緊急処置を行ってくれている方々に寄付するのは大切だが、現地のNPOを通して支援する事はある意味、規定外の事に役に立ててくれる事もある。でもこれは信頼関係の問題も生じる可能性があるので容易い事ではない。規定がなければどの組織も活動は出来ないが、規定が有る為に出来ない事、それを柔軟に出来ないが周り回って問題が発生する事もある。

この様な時、大きい新聞社より地元の新聞社の方が必要な情報を与えてくれる。

私自身、この災害に対しての姿勢は自分の出来る事をする事。本来、個人の事を紹介して下さる事は気恥ずかしい。自分の出来る小さな活動の重要なポイントは災害に対して、東北を初め日本の人々が感じている事、体験している事、そして葛藤している事を海外にいる周りの人達と対話する事。そして反対に海外の人達が、どの様に感じ、どの様に思っているかを東北や日本にいる人達に直接伝える事だと思っています。

海外の子供達を初め一般人の災害に対しての反応を山形新聞に伝えてくださった藤原さん、そして新聞でもっとも大事な役割の一つ、現地の現状を私達に知らせ、その反応を記事にして、橋をかけてくれた松田さんに感謝します。

Combat for Tohoku people: exposition: Mai 3- Mai 17

2011-04-21T15:19:00.001+09:00

Bonjour, je tiens à vous annoncer l'exposition de "Combat en progress" pour population de Tohoku ( nord-est du Japon).

Vous êtes les bienvenus.
Il y aura 50 œuvres,Ces œuvres sont toutes pièce unique ; ils sont transférés manuellement sur les textiles imprimés. Taille: 27 x 41 cm, châssis sur toile.

La date : 4 mai-17 mai et

Le vernissage: 3 mai, 18h-21h .
Zebra gallery a Hotel square, 3 place CLEMENT ADER 75016
www.zebrasquare.com

Toutes les ventes seront reversés à l'AAR Japon: une ONG japonaise sans aucun lien politique, idéologique ou religieux. Déjà présente sur place, elle participe aux secours aux personnes touchées par les destructions. Pour plus d'information sur cette organisation :

http://www.aarjapan.gr.jp/english/info/index.html

« Combat » Manuel de survie quotidienne est une œuvre poétique et engagée. Depuis 2003, Miki Nitadori travaille à constituer, en images et en émotions un catalogue de gestes qui peuvent nous aider à vivre et à survivre.

Elle a d’abord travaillé seule, à partir d’autoportraits, et puis a invité ses actuels voisins (les habitants du 3^ème arrondissement à Paris) à participer. Depuis l’espace intime d’un photomaton, ils ont composés ces gestes à partager ; Miki Nitadori les a travaillés et rendus sur des tissus imprimés, entrelacs qui symbolisent notre société humaine faite de liens, de mémoires, d’histoires et de rencontres. Cette œuvre a été exposée sur la façade de la Mairie à l’occasion des nuits blanches.

Les tragiques événements japonais sont l’occasion pour l’artiste d’une autre forme de partage. Elle offre aux habitants du Tohoku, épicentre de la catastrophe, non seulement les fonds récoltés par la vente des tableaux mais aussi l’œuvre puisque certaines des pièces pourront être achetées collectivement et envoyées au Japon pour orner les murs rebâtits. Mais plus profondément encore, c’est l’esprit même de l’œuvre que Miki Nitadori propose de partager avec ceux qui souffrent et qui doivent reconstruire leur vie intime et communautaire bouleversée. « On a recours à la main, quand les mots ne sont plus suffisants » : une collection de gestes venus du monde entier devrait pouvoir soutenir leurs efforts et contribuer à entretenir le souffle de l’espoir.

poissons et les libellules de Mei-yueh ( Nouveau!!!!*)

2011-04-15T09:31:00.002+09:00

Une semaine a passé depuis que les poissons de mon professeur de chinois, Mei-yueh, ont trouvé leurs nouvelles maisons chez les enfants qui les avaient achetés. Mardi, Mei-yueh m'a donné deux autres boîtes de poissons et quelques libellules pour le Japon.

Je suis en contact depuis peu avec une association " support organization for artist of Tohoku" qui vient en aide aux artistes du Tohoku, à Sendai, la SOAT.

http://www.soat.jp/

J'en ai entendu parler par le Yamagata Shinbun : l'association travaille également avec les enfants de la région et les aide à traverser la crise actuelle par le moyen d'actions artistiques diverses. Ce qui correspond au souhait que j'avais de venir en aide aux enfants en vendant mes œuvres.

Mme Fujiwara, une des représentantes de l'association, m'a expliqué qu'à la suite du séisme, le siège de l'association avait été en partie endommagé et que parmi les membres, certains avaient perdu leur matériel et leur atelier et qu'ils étaient dans l'impossibilité de travailler.

Je voudrais donc vendre cette deuxième série de poissons et les libellules de Mei-yueh au profit de cette association dont les membres continuent, en dépit des difficultés qu'ils connaissent, à travailler avec les enfants. J'admire leur courage !

J'ai constaté lors de la première vente que les gens avaient du mal à décider d'un prix ... J'ai donc décidé d'attribuer un prix de vente à chaque sorte d'animal : 4 euros pour les gros poissons, 2 euro pour les petits et 8 euro pour les libellules.

Je vais commencer la vente dans mon quartier et en d'autres lieux...

Si vous souhaitez acheter quelques poissons au bénéfice de SOAT, merci de me contacter !

New fish by Mei-Yue ( 美月的魚）

2011-04-15T09:18:00.001+09:00

Hello, It has been a week since my chinese teacher Mei-yueh's fish left to diverse children's homes. Last Tuesday she gave me 2 box full of new fish and some dragon flies for the cause of Japan.
I have been in contact now for a week with the non-profit organization" support organization for artist of Tohoku" in Sendai.(SOAT) http://www.soat.jp/
I got to know about them because i read an article on Yamagata shinbun that they are supporting children of Tohoku through art.
Originally, i have been looking for a way to support children by selling my work "combat in　progress" in the next stage.
I have learned from Mrs. Fujiwara who represents the SOAT that their building have been damaged,and some members have lost all their materials and their atelier and are not able to work.
I have decided as a first step to directly support people in Tohoku that I will sell these fish and dragon flies and all the money will go to SOAT.
Becuase even in their hardship they are supporting the children and i admire them.
From my last experience i decided it is too difficult for people to decide their own price. There for now i have fix the price according to what people paid in the last action: Fish (large ) : 4 euro and fish ( small): 2 euro and for Dragon flies ; 8 euro.
I will begin selling them in my neighborhood and other places.
If you would like to buy them please contact .

Dawn's post on spirited Woman Blog

2011-04-14T07:47:00.003+09:00

Dawn and i went to photography school in Paris. As i divided a year program in 6 months each, i was able to meet different people and different atmosphere.
At that time, I photographed Dawn and saw how she was made for light...meaning positive attitude but also recognized the fact that she had deep understanding of emotions.
When I met her couple of years after, she was shinning as ever and i learned that she had gone into her vocation as her present profession . http://fabulouslysuccessful.com/
I appreciate the fact that she had proposed to write a post on the blog as giving me her hand to reach the others.http://www.thespiritedwoman.com/go_blog_blog_blog/2011/04/using-art-as-a-helping-hand.html

Right now since one month, after the earthquake in Tohoku, i realized that one of the most important thing is this action. reaching out to communicate to people around you.
The news can inform us of what had happened. But often do not inform us enough about what actually is going on. We become a spectator of events while this is not a theater but real life struggle.
This is why it is important to get in touch,meet people, hear their voice, listen deeply, exchange ideas, pass their message and if there are messages for them, send it back.
My action for the people in Tohoku are continuing by raising money through selling creation . But i give an importance to dialog with people in diverse angle about reality and needs of people in Tohoku and Japan. I believe that this is a way to fill the gaps of news and bridge people who are on the other side of the world. To bring us closer.
Thank you Dawn!

近所の小学校の魚募金活動／パリの子供達から東北の人達へのメッセージ

2011-04-10T08:43:00.002+09:00

先週の木曜日、近所の小学校で中国語の先生の作った再生プラスチックの魚の入った箱をもって募金活動をして来ました。全額は大きい物ではなかったのですが、翌日,難民を助ける会に東北の災害の為寄付させていただきました。

私の募金活動の重要と思っている点は人々との対話です。日本の方達の状態を知らせる事、そしてそれをニュースなどを観覧者として捉えるのではなく、もっと皆さんに親身になって感じてもらいたいと思って本当に小さい活動ですがしています。

一つの魚に対して、各自の決めた額を寄付すると言う考えはもしかして間違っていたのではと思った時のありましたが、中国語の先生は魚達が新しい家を見つけて嬉しいと言ってくれた事、私の住んでいる地域は移民の人とお金持ちの人達が混合している地区なので学校の一番多い人口は中国系の子供達です。それにアフリカ系、アラブ系、ユダヤ系の人達が多くいる学校で、この地区の範囲に入っている子供達も隣の地区の学校にいったりして、日本人は我が家の子が１人いるだけです。

その学校に行き子供達と話す事、親と話す事はとても重要な事だと思っています。多くの人は結果的に３日坊主で日本の事を衝撃的なニュースと考えている人が多いのがフランスの現実ですが、その中にも本当に物事を心からとらえ、日本の東北の方々の事を考えてくれている人達はいます。
それはフランスにいる私達に取ってとても大切で励みになるものです。

子供達の中には魚ほしさに何でも渡せば良いと言う態度に出る子、自分のおこずかい全額寄付してくれた子、親でも見て見ぬふりをする人、本当に毎週の様に会社で寄付し今回も寄付してくれた人。東北の事を話すと涙を流してくれる人。色々な人がいました。

私が中でも嬉しかったのは子供達からの東北の人たちへメッセージです。
これらの言葉はフランス語で書かれていますが
私が一番大好きなのは一番始めにメッセージを書いてくれたライオンの絵。”頑張って！”と言う言葉をそえて。その次の文章のメッセージのとても好きです。”本当に皆さん頑張って！良い姿勢であれば私達は出来る。超ガンバって、皆さん、良い姿勢で。私は貴方達を応援してます。”この子も前の子もまだ完全な言葉の書き方は知らない年齢なのに心から思っている事を伝えられる素晴らしさに感動しました。

次の子供の言葉は　”長く生き続けて日本。”と言う言葉。これは色々な捉え方があるけど、親愛する人々に向けて敬意の言葉、信じていると言う励ましの言葉だと思うのです。

その次の子供は東北の皆さんに”空からの贈り物、魚をありがとう！”

次の子供は　”貴方達を愛しています。”

最後の絵はアフリカ人の６歳の子の絵。
なぜか　”万歳をしている熊”

これら全てはとても素直な気持ちから来ていてとても嬉しかったです。
子供達も色々質問し、説明できる機会、対話する事によって生まれる事。
彼らは本当にフィルターのない心からいろいろ聞いてくれるので嬉しいです。

私にとってこれらの事はとても大切なものです。
私は一般人なので集められる金額は限られているいますがこの災害があり、日本人，そしてフランス人、その他の国籍の友人達と大切な事をわかち合ったり、友人の中で本当にこの事はサポートして貰ったり、近所の人達と話したりする事に非常に意味が有るのではないかと考えています。

今後も自分の出来る事をやっていこうと思っています。

東北地方の方々、心から応援しています。

Combat for Tohoku continues

2011-04-08T08:32:00.000+09:00

No... it is not over! Since last week,it has been twice when people asked me if this ended.
Combat for Tohoku continues...
https://picasaweb.google.com/nitadorimiki/CombatForTohokuPeople?authkey=Gv1sRgCL3-sL2PvvDb4wE&feat=directlink
My last post was to just to thank people for their support but Tohoku still needs every thoughtful help from all of us.
Prayer is a one way but for me right now action is what is the most meaningful way of being with the people.
Some friends have been helping me to give more action possibilities.
Friends who are non-Japanese are giving a helping hand to reach mine and to yours to another.
I will let you know of all the help people have been giving me in this blog in the future.
I am extremely lucky to have this support as this is the only thing i can do, right now.
I am grateful to have a real support from people who understand and care about others far from their land.

Thank you for your trust and I trust you back.

2011-04-03T09:32:00.002+09:00

I began to sell my series "combat in progress" on March 17th for the cause of Tohoku.
Till this moment 15 pieces were sold only via internet.
Mainly these works were bought by people who already knew my works and deeply concerned by what is happening in Tohoku.
Even I tell people over and over that everything that is paid will be given to the people in Tohoku through donation to AAR that is present in Tohoku since the very early stage, this action has been misunderstood as a commercial operation.
From this action, I am receiving a "gift" that is not currency but togetherness.

In the past, I often had a deep appreciation to people who bought my works.They gave me a possibility to continue to work and some of these people are engraved in my memory. It was exciting when my works were sold constantly in short time. But what makes me remember about the people are not that economic dynamics. It is words that we exchange and their vision towards my works.

This experience of donating my works and people buying pieces from this series, i am experiencing something that is important.
If i resume this experience in one word, it is "Trust".
Trust in my action, my feeling, my thoughts, my instinct and who i am.
In other times,when people bought my work, they trusted my work but reasons and goals varied.

As this moment, I have never felt this strong sense of collaboration with people who bought my work. We are taking a common action together through this series. We know that this action is important as we are deeply touched by what is going on in Tohoku. We would like to be present for the people and remember what is happening in this fast changing news society. We are present. We are here and we are doing what we can to participate in recovery of Tohoku.

All the people who bought these works are exceptional people as a human being because they understand the most important thing in life is to be present for another. This is why I choose this work " Combat in progress " for donation. As the essence of the work is giving our own presence to encourage others to "Combat".

Combat avec nous / fight with us

2011-03-31T08:33:00.001+09:00

In last 2 weeks i have been sleeping minimum hours and meeting and communicating with many people who have been involved in the earthquakes in Japan.

Probably many people do not understand our restlessness and worries that we are here far away from the land of rising sun. It is not only Japanese people who are in this state, also the french and other nationalities who left the country and/or have a close relationship to.

These days i receive a mail saying " Please keep on watching ... we Japanese will reconstruct." "Japanese people are hurt right now but they will unite for reconstruction."
I am glad to hear such phrase.

In other hand, i receive mails from Japan that indicate fears and loneliness they feel in the current time. I wish i could bring everyone out of where they are. But life isn't that simple, everyone have their engagement, they have their work,home and family. I just hope that they know that we are far but present in each minute that passes and thinking about them.

Through this experience i am learning about what compassion means. Speaking to an American friend who was in mexico during 9.11, She told me her experience , she felt alone as her intellectual friends couldn't see this condition simply as human being. When 9.11 happened, I realized that i was reacting the same way as her "intellectual" friends by reacting on observation rather than a compassion. At the time, I was not compassionate towards my friend who was worried and today i can see it clearly.

A friend talked about loosing her mother during the Kobe earth quake. She said she could not get over the sadness of losing her mom that she couldn't react to what was happening in Kobe. Therefore this time she would like to be present , to take an action she can to support the earthquake.

Another friend talked about leaving Tokyo, he really felt close to African people's feelings when they are forced to leave everything behind with a bag, not knowing if they can come back to their home again.

I think the bake sale in Oxford university by poor students are good because it is about brotherhood. Giving is often confused by the idea to the poor ( or above to below but it is not about that.)

Giving is between equal human beings because we feel the compassion and we are together with the people.

It is a good lesson for all of us who have been brought up in a capitalist /industrial /colonial countries.

It is standing together because we want to build a better future together for our children.
It is not about rich people or poor people, it is about sharing and being present as much as we can because we care.

Les poissons de Mei-Yueh pour Tohoku

2011-03-26T09:04:00.003+09:00

Mon professeur de chinois mandarin Mei-yueh m'a offert une boîte pleine de poissons qu'elle a fait avec du matériel recyclé. Depuis deux semaines, elle ma montre après ses cours comment fabriquer ces poissons. Elle fait toutes sortes d'animaux avec les mêmes matériaux ; elle nous a également donné des libellules. Lorsque je lui ai expliqué que je voulais vendre les poissons pour recueillir plus d'argent pour les gens de Tohoku, elle a immédiatement dit : "Je vais vous donner tous mes stocks." Le lendemain, elle me les a apportés. Dans les coutumes chinoises, le poisson (MU, 鱼) représente la vitalité de la vie et on lui demande souvent d'en fabriquer pour les mariages, par exemple. Comme c'est une femme pleine de bonté, elle a ma donné tout ce qu'elle avait.
Mei-yue nous apprend beaucoup de choses sur la culture chinoise. Son cours n'est pas seulement académique et ennuyeux : elle nous propose des jeux, des chants, de l'artisanat et des histoires. Mei-yueh est un professeur fantastique complètement dévouée à son travail. J'ai l'intention de vendre ces poissons pour Tohoku dans mon quartier.
Comme ils sont magnifiques, je voulais les partager avec vous.

Mei yueh 's Fish for Tohoku

2011-03-26T00:09:00.004+09:00

My Mandarin Chinese teacher Mei-yueh had given me a box full of fish that she made with recycled material. For the last two weeks after class she have been showing me how she makes these fish. She makes all kinds of animals with the same materials. she gave us dragon flies among other animals. When I mentioned that i wanted to sell the fish to raise more money for Tohoku people, she immediately said "i will give you all my stocks." and she brought them the next day. As fish ( MU、魚） represents in Chinese customs: life vitality, people ask her to make it for the wedding etc. But she being a kind person she gave me everything she had.
Mei-yueh teaches us many things about Chinese culture. It is not just a boring academic lessons but she proposes us games, songs, crafts and stories. She is a fantastic teacher that is truly devoted to her work . I plan to sell these fish in my neighborhood.
Since they are beautiful, i wanted to share with you.

Francois Fillon to Japanese in France/ Fillon aux Japonais de France

2011-03-24T09:13:00.001+09:00

"In Kagoshima in south of Japan, it seems that the cherry trees begin to bloom. Beyond the period of mourning, the combat for life, the combat to reconstruction,will accelerate. "

"Dans le sud du Japon, à Kagoshima, il paraît que les cerisiers commencent à fleurir. Au-delà du temps du deuil, le combat pour la vie, le combat pour la reconstruction s'accélérera"

Believe in recovery : objects you can send.

2011-03-22T17:43:00.000+09:00

Believe in recovery of Tohoku

Many people are with hope and doing the best they can.

Please support them in a way you can do.

please donate to your trusted organization of aid.

object donations (from Japanese companies and social structures only for now) had opened in diverse region.

I trust

AAR

http://www.aarjapan.gr.jp/english/ican/index.html

If you want to send objects as an individual

you can send to AAR

adult diapers

Batteries of size below

If you want to send the objects please contact them.

But please understand that they are over loaded with work.

So the best way of support for now is to send the money via different structures.

Later on they will open other donations.