Conditional Landscape - Japanese Artists' Exhibition

The Japan Foundation together with the Brukenthal Foundation sponsored two Japanese artists, Rie Kawakami und Tetsuro Kano to work in the Gusterita Fortified Church. Anca Mihulet, curator in the Brukenthal Museum Sibiu ran the six-week event. The artists' work were exihibited in a workshop atelier to the public. 

Poster at the school gate

Tetsuro Kano and his objects made from locally gathered materials

A page from Rie Kawakami's draft book

Rie Kawakami, artist from Sapporo, Japan spent six weeks in the Gusterita Fortified Church working and living there.  The light aspect around the 700-year-old church fascinated her, in the way it entered the church space through the Gothic-style windows. She worked her impressions into some of her creations of light penetrating the walls: pointed windows charcoal-sketched onto the circular wall and shadows indicated with crushed roof tiles on the grass. 

On the chancel exterior Rie presented a cone of light made from ancient roof slats, accentuating the alcoves which have been closed for centuries.

Gusterita parish members at the vernissage Image: Elfriede Dörr

Tetsuro Kano's workspace Image: Elfriede Dörr

Traces of light on the ancient circular walls

Cone of light initiating from closed alcoves. Image: Elfriede Dörr

Anca Mihulet with a group of Gusterita Roma children   Image: Elfriede Dörr

'Dog menacing man'.  Image: Elfriede Dörr

Children take a tour of the exhibition. Image: Elfriede Dörr

The vernissage