Dialogue - Chikuni -

With an innocent heart, forever

Chikuni says that it was during his childhood that he developed the ability to think outside the box, free from preconceived notions such as titles and common sense.

"At the time, we were talking about renovating our house, and my parents handed me some graph paper and said, 'Draw a room you like.' I didn't know the word 'interior design,' but I really enjoyed thinking about what kind of house I wanted, or what kind of room I wanted. From then on, whenever I had free time I would obsess over drawing pictures of houses and rooms. At the same time, I also liked building plastic models. I found it fun to do both, drawing and actually building things."

After studying design and spatial composition at an architecture school, he got a job at a design company. Since he mainly worked on commercial design, he was involved in a wide range of work, not just graphics, but also product design and the design of fixtures for displaying the products. After that, he learned welding and iron mechanisms at an exterior company and gained experience working as a craftsman. He learned furniture restoration and woodworking at an antique shop, obtained a second-hand goods dealer license, and handled everything from sales to delivery, learning various aspects of running a store.

There is a shape I want to create

Chikuni says he has always liked works that have a sense of freedom.

"In the world of folk art, there are kokeshi dolls made from simple materials. You often see kokeshi dolls that the maker has made without worrying about perfection. Of course, beauty is the basic requirement, but I loosen my purse strings and buy kokeshi dolls that deviate from perfection a little. If I were to compare it to a doll, I'm drawn to dolls that are missing parts, rather than dolls with both legs."

When he creates a piece of work, he says that sometimes the finished product exceeds his imagination, and when it turns out to be even better than he had imagined, he is reminded of the depth and appeal of making things.

Even as my interest and focus in what I create changes, what remains the same is my belief in care and honesty.

"There is a definite skill behind carefulness. I think it's necessary to achieve the finish you desire."

Combining technology and knowledge, I strive to achieve a finish that I think satisfies me. Honesty is like a guidepost for myself when I get lost in the process of making something. Chikuni says that it is something he wants to always have in mind so that he can steer in the direction that naturally moves him.

Light has illuminated our daily lives throughout the ages.

Two weeks before the Chikuni exhibition, at 4:53 am on December 7, 2019, Saori Tashiro, a staff member at Utsushiki, passed away after suffering a stroke during childbirth. When I received the news, I felt a mixture of emotions that I cannot put into words.

"For this exhibition, I created "Llama" as a new, unique lighting piece that is not standard. Llama means mass or spirit in Ainu. It is also the light that illuminates Utsushiki's feelings and Aoba Ichiko's quietly powerful performance. The stump used as the material is driftwood that washed up on the coast of Shizuoka Prefecture. Shizuoka Prefecture is where Tashiro was born and raised, and it is also a place that has a connection to the two members of "Panchavati," who hosted a vegan dinner party during the exhibition. When I saw the stump, I had an image of what it would look like when finished, but it took a lot of trial and error to decide how to process it. It was a process where one wrong move could have cut your finger, but I hoped that it would create a new landscape, and in the end I was able to create the shape I wanted."

Light has always been a part of our lives, illuminating our daily lives. Whether it be to bless someone, encourage them, or mourn them. A ray of light from an invisible world is entrusted to a new, tiny life, watching over us in our hearts, hoping that the future ahead will be illuminated with a bright light.

Clear time and space

Chikuni's first experience directing lighting for musicians was at a concert called "Ryusei" by Aoba Ichiko and Haruka Nakamura, held on Tanabata Day.

"We projected the Milky Way onto the video screen at the back of the venue and used 15 10-watt lights to create a very dark effect. It was the kind of dimness that a professional lighting technician would never achieve, but the two of them liked it."

Until then, Chikuni had been creating works by proposing what he wanted to express. He says that this was the first time he had created something for someone else. This experience was a catalyst, and the lighting direction at the concert led to his own artwork.

This time at Utsushiki, we held a concert by Aoba Ichiko under the direction of Chikuni lighting in conjunction with the exhibition "Lingering Afterglow".

"Birth and death have equal value. Facing death is at the same time facing life."

As a listener, the words that Aoba Ichiko spoke before each song at the concert stayed in my mind, leaving me immersed in the afterglow of the concert.

Thinking

Over the course of two years, the number of staff members has increased, and Chikuni says his desire to "train people" has grown stronger.

It's not just about honing our skills, but also about conveying our attitude and sensibility towards manufacturing.

"I would also like to hold an exhibition in the shop that brings together young people. I want to teach everything I can. The world of manufacturing is a never-ending world, so I want to continue making my own works, worrying and laughing with the people around me."

[Exhibition Information]

Chikuni Exhibition

Lingering aftertaste

When I walk down the street, I see an excessive amount of neon lights, as if they are competing with the others for splendor and brilliance. I always think about what is intelligence in design. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that kind of light from Chikuni's lighting works, whether it's the light through a paper screen or the light of a candle. The works are designed for everyday use and are suited to a wide range of lifestyles, from old Japanese houses to modern spaces. This time, we have specially invited Ichiko Aoba to perform a concert, and a full course of vegan cuisine from Pancavati in Shizuoka. The light is added to the content that stimulates the senses of sight, hearing, and taste.