The March 11 Disaster Support Project Exhibition

February 9th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized

WAWA project, a social creative platform for opportunity, will hold “The March 11 Disaster Support Project Exhibition” from March 11 to March 25. The exhibition will focus on activities to restore the Tohoku region after last year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The exhibition contains interview film clips of 15 groups who are supporting the recovery effort, as well as the works of about 70 groups such as artists, builders, activists, companies, newspaper companies, NPOs, and so on.

Organizers hope the event will help people to rethink the lessons of the March 11 disaster, and reconfirm what Japan should be in the future.

 Here are some people supporting the recovery in the  Tohoku area, who are participating in the exhibition with interviews and visual displays.

Masahiko HAGA/NGO Kirikiri

In the town of Kirikiri, Otsuchicho, Iwate Prefecture, two-thirds of which has been transformed into rubble, the project Revival Firewood undertakes to collect and sell firewood from the debris. All income generated through sales is converted into tokens and returned to those who sweat and toil to collect the firewood. In this sea town where so many people have lost their jobs, this initiative aims to help by encouraging the circulation of currency. But surely eventually all the debris will be removed and there will be no resources left for firewood. So the project founder has also considered its long term sustainability and intends to found a school to teach mountain forest thinning with a vision to develop the project 10 to 20 years from now.

Click here to see more info about Masahiko HAGA/NGO Kirikiri.

 

Takashi MURAKAMI/MMIX Lab

MMIX Lab is an organization focused upon bringing art and community together through creative engagement and fusion of multimedia. Directly after the earthquake, Murakami joined with other NPOs in the region of Sendai to form the “Sendai Miyagi Emergency Support Group.” Once the need for urgent aid had waned, Murakami initiated two projects aimed at informing future generations about the events of the disaster. One project, “3.11 Memorial Project,” aims to preserve the surreal sights of ships that ended up in unimaginable places and public signage twisted and distorted by the tsunami. The other project, “Sakura Project,” intends to visualize the reach of the tsunami through a line of cherry blossom trees, so its destructive force may not be forgotten. These projects take the force of nature and transform it into the creativity of regeneration.

Click here to see more info about Takashi MURAKAMI/MMIX Lab.

 

Aya TAKADA/Birdo Flugas

A platform for artists primarily in North America and Japan, whose objective is to draw attention to artists making unique work and encourage interaction between them. In 2006, “Birdo Space” was opened as “a place for people and art to meet.” In addition, the following year, the off-site workshop “Break loose Birdo” was instigated. Since the earthquake, “Break Loose Birdo” workshops have been held for children in disaster- struck areas. From now on, Aya Takada hopes that through “Birdo Flugas,” young people will be able to gather, and that their energies may contribute to the energy essential for “local redevelopment.”

Click here to see more info about Aya TAKADA/Birdo Flugas.

 There will also be talk sessions and films about Tohoku during the event. Films will have English, Chinese and Korean subtitles.

Event information

Date: March 11 to March 25,  12:00-19:00

Entrance Fee: Free

Place: 3331 Arts Chiyoda


大きな地図で見る

For more details about the event, visit WAWA Project Official Website.

Author of this article

GaijinPot

GaijinPot is an online community for foreigners living in Japan, providing information on everything you need to know about enjoying life here, from finding a job and accommodation to having fun.

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