100 Crafts Challenges Kumite Ippon Sumo," which describes how I felt as I continued the challenge of the MATSURI-related project "100 Crafts Challenges Kumite. The second article in the series is about the triggers for 100 Crafts Challenges.
Senja-fuda," the first of the commemorative 100 Crafts Challenges. Like origami cranes, it is made of Echizen japanese paper.
In this issue of "100 Crafts Challenges," I would like to talk about where the idea of creating 100 items came from and how we are trying to give form to these items. However, this is not a spirited statement of belief, but rather a "for now" idea at this stage of the project. Since the 100 Crafts Challenges is a project to show the process, it would be forgivable.
Now, the impetus for this 100 Crafts Challenges Kumite goes back to the 10th anniversary of the Chitose Group, which was already two years ago (Chitose Group 10th Anniversary Special Site). For this event, CHITOSE's logo, "origami crane," will be produced as a souvenir. Of course, simply folding paper cranes for this special milestone is not soul-satisfying. We planned to collaborate with "Echizen japanese paper" to express the story of CHITOSE and to make a pledge for the next 1000 years. Echizen japanese paper is said to have a history of 1,500 years according to one theory, and its history and quality are truly "technology for a prosperous life for a thousand years to come. To pay respect to this history, we made special Japanese paper dyed with "algae," the foundation of the bioeconomy industry envisioned by CHITOSE, and folded cranes on it.
Paper cranes made for the 10th anniversary. (Source: CHITOSE Group 10th Anniversary Special Site)
Through the creation of the special origami cranes, we came to feel that this project meant more than a commemoration. The importance of making things in communicating a world view and concept gradually became strongly recognized within CHITOSE through the production of these origami cranes. By opening up the possibility of rich communication through the production of objects, we have a new approach to creating the world of CHITOSE and MATSURI. Now that you have become aware of a new approach, it is human nature to want to try it out and further deepen your understanding.
Nevertheless, MATSURI is open to vast possibilities, and no single idea can fully capture its range. So here, too, with a feeling of "for the time being," we wondered if it would be possible to depict the outlines of the world, albeit vaguely, not with a single item but with a collection of many items. Ultimately, we decided to start "MATSURI 100 Crafts Challenges" from the conception of a project to create a collection of "100" items, taking the space between "10" for the 10th anniversary and "1000" for Chitose (thousand years).
Now, if we were to create something, where should we start? We started with an analysis. What elements are missing in MATSURI today? What is algae in the first place? What does it mean to incorporate this into our culture? This process of analysis may be explored a bit further in the future. For now, I would like to just state my conclusion that the keyword "dye" has emerged here.
I wish you all a happy New Year.
written by：Aoi Nakamura
