Scattered among the textiles on the left and right are a map of Japan and the world drawn during the period of national isolation (16th-17th centuries); a view of Osaka at the end of the 18th century (Yotsubashi, Shinsaibashi-suji and Karamono-ya: foreign goods shop); the government seal and physical characteristics of the recipient on Japan’s first passport; a British clock for learning the Western time system (first year of Meiji); the trademark and textile designs of Kawashima Textile, which laid the foundations for modern Japanese textiles (Meiji period); the handwriting of Jinbei Kawashima II (late 19th century); the handwriting of the sender on a letter addressed to Jinbei Kawashima II; documents related to the World Expo in the Meiji period (early 20th century); an exterior view of the Meiji-era State Guest House “Senpukan”; the IC chip in a modern passport; Emojis; symbols such as @ and ©, etc.

The pulse of “human curiosity about the unknown” and “courage to open up to others”, which are not recorded in historical facts, are carefully selected, dismantled, and rewoven. I hope that the motifs scattered throughout these textiles will emerge like a “mystery-solving” puzzle or constellations in the night sky, drawing out people’s imaginations and words.

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[Artist’s Statement on Creating Works for the Expo State Guest House]

Japan, which had been closed, has now opened up, and Japan, which has opened up but still has parts that remain closed, will host an Expo again. The accumulation of “human curiosity about the unknown” and “Courage to open up to others”, which are not recorded in the historical record, has created our present. From national isolation to opening up to the world, then the Meiji era. And now, into the Reiwa era. I carefully chose motifs that faintly convey the pulse of energy that cannot be put into words. Then, I created them as “unfinished” works.

I hope this artwork will function as a trigger for people to talk about Japan’s and the world’s “past and future” at the State Guest House for Expo 2025, where the world will gather.