Intersection / Tourist trap | qenji-yoshida

Subbing The Subbing

2016 Made in Bangkok, Thailand

Work format: Video installation (Dimension variable)

Materials: 2 TVs

Introduction:

In Spain, there is a town inhabited by people with the surname Japón, which means Japan in Spanish.

400 years ago a group of Samurai traveled to Europe for some missions.

During their journey, Christianity was prohibited in Japan and some of the Samurais decided to remain to live in Spain to live as Christian. Those named Japón in the Spanish town today are regarded as possible descendants of the Samurai from history.

The work EL JAPONÉS aligns the artist himself as a “Japanese person who just came from Japan” and Mrs. Japón as a “descendant of historically the first migrant from Japan”.　

The dialog itself looks like a simple praise of communication but the two juxtaposed "Japanese" people imply and ask different notions such as "nationality", "race" and "immigrant integration".

Special thanks: Mr. and Ms. Japóns whom I met in Coria del Rio

INTERSECTION / TOURIST TRAP

(インターセクション กับดักนักท่องเที่ยว)

(จุดตัด ツーリストトラップ)

2017 Made in Japan and Thailand

Work format: Video installation (Dimension variable)

Materials: 2 Projectors, 2 places in two countries

This project was the first project that Wantanee Siripattananuntakul and Qenji have made a collaboration project. It was made in Japan and Thailand and was shown the same work for the same duration and time in two different countries. They walked along in different streets and talk about deep and random issues which happened in both countries. However some subjects cannot be talked to the public, especially in their own countries.