Creation, destruction and connection

This world is made up of a constant cycle of creation and destruction, and interconnectedness.
Our bodies are maintained by the repeated birth and death of cells called metabolism every day, and by continuing exchange and circulation with other living things. Life is an equilibrium maintained in a state of constant change. The born star begins to expand and eventually dies in a supernova explosion, but the fragments created by the explosion encourage the birth of the next star. From the microscopic to the macroscopic, the universe is made up of ``creation and destruction'' and mutual ``connections.''

The works of fourth-generation bamboo craftsman Chikuunsai Tanabe incorporate ``creation and destruction'' and ``interrelation with an awareness of connections.'' His representative installation works are not only impressive in scale, but also take the viewer's breath away with the delicateness of the densely woven bamboo.

This beautiful installation work, which uses no adhesives or other materials and is simply made up of bamboo pieces stacked on top of each other, will be completely dismantled once the exhibition period ends. That's why it is woven using a technique that allows the bamboo strips to unravel when pulled. Although some of the unraveled bamboo can no longer be used, much of it is reused and combined with new materials to create the next work.
Just like cells, there are things that die and things that are born, and these two are in circulation.Tanabe's wishes are always reflected in his works. It is a connection between life and life, between people, and between people and nature. Tanabe's representative installation works are titled ``Five Great''. The Five Greats are an ancient Indian idea that refers to the five elements that make up the universe: earth, water, fire, wind, and sky. Bamboo roots in the earth, absorbs water from the earth, is exposed to the fire of the sun, and is strengthened by the wind as it flexibly grows toward the sky. The fundamental thing that brings about this exquisite interconnectedness is ``emptiness.'' It is a concept that is neither existence nor nothing, but is the basis of everything, and is similar to the concept of zero discovered by Indians.

The fourth generation of the Tanabe family, who inherits the history of bamboo crafts for over 120 years.
One of the teachings of the Tanabe family is that ``tradition is a challenge.'' Rather than sticking to a formal format, he continues to challenge creation and destruction without hesitation. While inheriting the essence of the expressions and techniques of his predecessors, he has taken on new challenges while discerning his own individuality. One of the fruits of this effort is an installation work by the fourth generation. The cycle of creation and destruction in materials. Creation and destruction in history. I believe that works that incorporate both of these aspects will make people feel even the invisible reality of ``sky'' through powerful images.

The taut yet supple and elegant expression of bamboo crafts.Above all, the warmth that comes from the life of bamboo. The works of Chikuunsai Tanabe IV evoke deep within us the continuity of life and the countless interconnected relationships. It makes us rediscover our original relationship with this world, and it seems to symbolize the never-ending connection between past, present, and future.

B-OWND