「建築はどこにあるの？」

(English follows after Japanese)

　

　東京国立近代美術館の「建築はどこにあるの？7つのインスタレーション」展という企画展を見に行きました。私の中では、建築はファッションと並んで手ごわい展覧会です。図面の見方はよくわからないし、模型は現実のサイズ感をつかむのが難しい。何よりも人がいる、街の中にあるといった建築本来の文脈と引き離された場で、それらをどう見たらいいのかいつも困惑します。

　今回の展覧会では、現役の建築家が近美のために新しい空間を作る、というコンセプトとのこと。実際には「なんのことやら…。」と思うものもありましたが、やはりそこに人がいるからこそ、空間は意味を持つということを強く感じました。この展覧会が、写真撮影が可能だったこともそう思った理由の一つかもしれません。作品の全てが実寸の「建物」感がある訳ではなかったものの、人が作品を見たり、細部を覗いたり、写真を撮ったりと、いろんな動きをする人が、私が覗いた携帯カメラの画面に入り込んでいる様子が面白いと思ったのです。私がカメラを構えていると慌てて画面から去ろうとしてくださる人もいましたが、心の中で「そのまま、動かないで！」とつぶやいていました。「人のいる空間」という視点で見ると、何となく建築家の目指したい事が見えてくるような気がしました。

　展示室内をぐるっと見終わり、いつも彫刻が一つ置いてある芝生の前庭に出ると、そこには私の大好きな建築家、アトリエ・ワンの作品がありました。竹を使って人が集える場所を作ったとのこと。遠くから見ると、巨大な動物の輪郭に見えます。私の撮った写真には、3人の大学生らしき男の子たちが写っています。さっき仲良さげに展示室内を見て回っていた3人です。竹の間から真夏の日差しが降り注ぐ中、人が行き交うこの場所は、初めに入ってきた時に異空間に遭遇する驚きをもたらし、展示を見終わった後には私達を外部空間に導く緩衝地帯となっているところがとても好ましく思いました。

「建築はどこにあるの？ 7つのインスタレーション」展

Where is architecture?

I have been to the exhibition called "Where is architecture? Seven Installations by Japanese Architects" at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. For me, an exhibition of architecture is tough to tackle with as same as one of fashion. I don't have any knowledge to read the drawing as it seems too technical for me, it is difficult to imagine the real size from the small models, and most of all, I always confuse how I should see the exhibits of architecture being dragged from the context where they are built. In this exhibition, the concept is that the seven noticeable Japanese architects to create new spaces for the museum. To be honest, some of them were "what on earth is that !?" for me, though, I recognised that the spaces are given meanings when there are live people. One of the reasons why I thought so was this. You were allowed to take photos in this exhibition (it is not very common in exhibition in Japan.). I felt it interesting to see the people walking and wondering in the building spaces through the lens of my mobile's camera. I was trying to capture those people in the photo, but when they found I was taking photos, they were politely moving out of the flame for me! So I said "No! don't move, stay there please!" in my mind! I wanted to see those spaces with people, because it makes me understand something that the architects were aiming at.

I looked through the exhibition rooms and went out to the front garden where there always was only a sculpture. There, there were huge works by Atelier Bow-wow that one of my most favourite architects unit. They made works of bending bamboo branches which looked like bones of a tent or a shelter. They said they tried to make where people could gather together. From the distance, they also looked like gigantic animal shapes. In the photo I took, there are three boys sitting together, who were looking around the exhibition rooms chatting. (I guesses they were architecture students.) This is the space where summer sun beam were coming through the bamboo and some people go by and some stay for a while. At first, it gave me a big surprise because there are only grass and a sculpture usually I visit. But, these pieces of work would have been a good effect of entering point when you go into the exhibition space like preparing your mind. And after you enjoy the exhibits, they, again, welcome to relax and let us go back to our everyday life.