我孫子市国際交流協会

Duration: Saturday, October 29 to Sunday, November 13, 2011
Venue: Aijima no Mori (Aijima Woods), Shimin no Mori (Citizen’s Woods), Miyanomori Park, Sengen Jinja (Sengen Shrine), etc.
Sponsored by: Executive Committee of Abiko Open-Air Art Exhibition and Abiko Board of Education

The AIOE counting 14th this year were carried out mainly at the Aijima housing area, the eastern part of Abiko City. Many art fans not only from inside but outside of the city visited and enjoyed various art works spotted at fields, parks, ponds and woods during the 2 weeks period from October 29 to November 13.
This year’s exhibition was remarkable in the following 2 points.
First, six foreign artists finally came to Japan from Hungary, Germany, Austria, Senegal, India and South Korea and created characteristic works despite the widespread worry in overseas countries about the earthquake of March 11.
Secondly, three ambassadors joined the opening ceremony of October 29, namely, Senegalese Ambassador to Japan, Mauritanian Ambassador to Japan and Japanese Ambassador to Mauritania temporally staying in Japan, in addition to Mr. J. Hoshino, Mayor of Abiko. Furthermore, the Secretary General of EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee, one of supporters of the project, was also seen in the ceremony.  
It was understood that the visit of the three diplomats related to African nations was realized because African popular artist Mr. M. Kebe displayed his work at the exhibition. He was born in Senegal and is now active with his art creation in Mauritania.
In the past, opening ceremony was attended by foreign diplomats, namely, Icelandic Ambassador to Japan in 2009, Hungarian Vice Ambassador to Japan in 2010, and this year three ambassadors honored the event, which may prove that the exhibition is now gradually getting known worldwide.
The ceremony had been and this year again was held at the Inoue Residence, known
as Aijima, where the Mayor and three ambassadors respectively expressed warm-hearted congratulatory messages, following the opening address of Mr. T. Shimada, chairperson of the executive committee.
Mrs. Chizuko Inoue, the wife of the 14th generation of the Inoue family, was introduced as the birth-mother of the exhibition, who has been giving enormous cooperation for successful operation of the event, readily allowing people use the residence and its adjacent facilities.
AIRA’s volunteer interpreters were supportive throughout the event serving in the courtesy meeting and conversation of honorable guests as well as the subsequent interpretation between foreign artists and visitors while walking to the works-site. The opening ceremony concluded after introduction of six each domestic and overseas artists invited.
Then a works-viewing tour “Lecture Hiking” was started. In a very fine weather,
around 50 hikers marched in a long line looking at 35 works at 8 points; shrine, woods,
parks, along ponds, bamboo bush, and squares. In front of the works, creators
explained in words and gestures about what the works meant and how were his/her
efforts consumed in materialization, while visitors listened interestingly with occasional
questions in turn. The following works particularly drew visitors’ attention: African
tent-houses made of non-woven fabrics, huge bamboo structure imaging chaos and
peace in the universe, the sea filled with many mysterious small lights in woods, a
gigantic kaleidoscope made of 2 drums connected together, several dogs made of
metal-carving who are at first in position to pursue other dogs but later turned to be
chased by them, striking 2 pyramids in similar figure made of 16000 empty PET bottles,
big masks dancing among trees, lovely object decorated by kindergarten kids, etc.
AIRA volunteer interpreters were also in action in early days. On October 20, they
interpreted conversation between foreign artists and Japanese in the press conference,
courtesy meeting with Abiko Mayor, cruising at Teganuma, and a steering meeting on
the day before the opening ceremony. They were cooperative in promoting exchange
between Japanese and foreign artists throughout the exhibition weeks this year again.
(vol.149)