- a blind-date event for the other senses inspired by The Tale of Genji -

2015

participatory installation for the other senses


takekawa03

DSC_2096_3

DSC_2112_1

DSC_2147_1

 

Once upon a time, a man fell in love with a woman just by sensing her atomosphere behind bamboo curtains.  He used all the other senses than the sight just to synthesize the whole vision of her as a person. Subtle information as the scent of incense and her silk kimono carried by the wind, and the friction sound of her touch, was already enough for him to fall in love with her.



Back then in Japan, women were not allowed themselves to be exposed to public.  She was kept behind curtains her entire life, not even allowed to give a word to a man that she liked. The Tale of Genji is a classic work of Japanese literature in the early years of the 11th century that illustrates such unique depiction of the lifestyles of high courtiers during the Heian period. 



This event started from a question: "Can we also fall in love like that?"  

Modern communication is a lot thru by the sight so sex appeal is often made visually.  But in this event, the dating setup simulates the world of this novel, in the context of olfactory art. 


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al6XEOM151o

{youtube}Al6XEOM151o{/youtube}

 

Setup:

space_design_L

- Waiting rooms are completely isolated visually, but sound-wise not (Japanese room is often made with paper)


- A man prepares a haiku poem related to the season and seasonal flowers. A woman gives permission to meet him if she likes it.


- They meet behind the curtains for 10 min.  The man may speak a word but the woman not. Her maid intermediates instead.
 

 

Testimonials:

  “I experienced re-construction of the senses.  When you have the sights, scent is just  simple additional information.  But in this setup, when imagination becomes delution, you lose control. I was in total confusion: Any tiny information becomes sex appeal.”

 

M to F sex appeal examples:

-smell (perfumed on hair and kimono)

-letter (poem, calligraphy, flowers, scent on paper)

-talk

-play music

-the subtle sound of silk clothes and tabi socks

-gift

 

F to M sex appeal examples:

-atomosphere

-smell (perfumed on hair and kimono)

-letter (poem, calligraphy, flowers, scent on paper)

-words carried by the maid

-the subtle sound of silk clothes and tabi socks

 

[data]

Kyoto Love Story

Les cheveux noirs et la madeleine (Black tresses and the madeleine) Exhibition

Premier: Kyoto Art Center (www.kac.or.jp), 19 Dec 2015

Surpported by: Kyoto Saga Art University(http://www.kyoto-saga.ac.jp)

Curated by: Prof. Yoko Iwasaki

Concept: Maki Ueda

 

10445571_794934963947215_8514658536818951535_n

 

Collaboration with: Daikichi Yoshida

on: June 16, 2015

at: Uplink Shibuya, Tokyo

 

 

 

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

 

マルチな活動を展開するシタール奏者ヨシダダイキチと“嗅覚アーティスト
”ウエダマキの二人が、UPLINKの空間全体を使って行うスペシャルライブ! 
シタールの音色と匂いが織りなす宇宙を五感全開でご体験ください。

*当ページでの[参加予定]では予約完了とはなりませんのでご注意下さい。
(予約方法:下記参照)
ーーーーーーーーーーー
【日時】6/16(火) 19:00 open / 19:30 start
【会場】UPLINK FACTORY http://www.uplink.co.jp/
    東京都渋谷区宇田川町37-18 トツネビル1階
【出演】Yoshida Daikiti (スルバハール)
    MAKI UEDA (嗅覚アーティスト)
【料金】予約:2,500円 / 当日:3,000円 *共に+1ドリンク500円
【予約】http://www.uplink.co.jp/event/2015/37877
ーーーーーーーーーーー
【出演者プロフィール】

◆ ヨシダダイキチ:http://www.yoshidadaikiti.net/

200年近くに渡りシタールの可能性を探求しているイムダッド派の7代目ウスタッド・シュジャート・カーンの弟子。
YOSHIMI(ボアダムス/ooioo)、U-zhaanとのユニット「SAICOBABA」、様々なアジア楽器のポリリズムと歌唱法を取り入れた「AlayaVijana」、シタール5~30台を使ったユニット「sitaar-tah」などで国内外のレーベルより多数のアルバムをリリース。また、「ファティマとセミラ」「テュリ」をUAに楽曲提供、プロデュース。インド楽器、バリ・ガムランなど多彩なアジア音楽でアレンジした、奄美民謡の朝崎郁恵のアルバム「はまさき」をプロデュース。フジ・ロック・フェスティバル他、多数のフェスティバルやTV、ラジオ番組への出演。シタールやインド音楽に関する本「シタールのほん」執筆。他、民謡~ポップス~現代アートなどインド古典音楽に留まらずボーダレスに活躍。

◆ ウエダマキ:http://www.ueda.nl/

嗅覚とアートの融合を試みる「匂いのアーティスト」。
匂いを素材として作品を制作・発表する。現在は石垣島を拠点とし、ヨーロッパを中心に世界各地で展示やワークショップを行う。約10年のオランダ生活経験があり、オランダ王立美術大学でも定期的に嗅覚アートを教えている。欧米で流行の兆しを見せ始める嗅覚アートのリーディング・アーティストのひとり。

Sukebeningen Official WebsiteL: http://sukebeningen.org

 

What is Sukebeningen Project?

The project presents inter media art of characteristically Japanese eroticism. We explore the cultural differences in the conception of eroticism between The Netherlands and Japan through music, dance, electronics, fine arts, and olfactory art.

The name "Sukebeningen"

The name of the project "Sukebeningen" comes from the beach Scheveningen in Den Haag, The Netherlands. Japanese pronounce the word "Scheveningen" /sukebeningen/. The word "sukebe" means somethig like "lecherous" or "naughty," and "ningen" means human being. So "Sukebeningen" means a naughty person. In Japan, therefore, Scheveningen is well-known as a beach with a funny-sounding name. One might say the name is ambiguous: for Dutch, it refers to the beautiful beach; for Japanese, it refers to a naught person. For both peoples, the name of the project is very familiar.

Why eroticism?

One's conception of eroticism reveals his or her sexual sensitivity at a very personal level. At the same time, eroticism reflects the taste of a people at the cultural level. Indeed, eroticism is an important aspect of the cultural aesthetics. Everyone is interested in eroticism, and how different cultures conceive of it. But, it is also a sensitive topic, and it can be difficult to talk about it. We want people to enjoy our works personally and casually, although at the same time we deal with eroticism honestly and seriously.

  

About the Works

(1) The Tattooer 

The Tattooer is based on the beautiful sado-masochistic tale by Junichiro Tanizaki. In the piece, Tanizaki€™s world is crystalized using carefully selected materials from the story.

About the scents; The first scent: Jinko, an aphrodisiac incense that used to be diffused permanently in the Japanese red light district in the old days. It symbolizes ecstasy. The second scent: Shoko, an incense that is employed in Buddhist ceremonies and funerals. It symbolizes death.

Video directed by Kaname Onoyama.

electronics and composition : Yota Morimoto

composition and violin : Noriko Koide

supervision : Akane Takada

dance : Chiaki Horita

olfactory art : Maki Ueda

tattoo : Yuki Hatazawa

percussion : Ryoko Imai

 

(2) Moon

The concept of the work is an installation of kehai, a Japanese word which means 'a vague sense of the presence of something.' When one perceives or becomes aware of an indication that somebody/something exists around him/her, many faculties of senses contribute to pick up that. We created a dance piece in which multi-sensorial experience is explored. The auditorium is in complete darkness, suppressing the sense of sight, and making other modalities more sensitive. The seats in the auditorium are arranged with intervals, through which the dancer will dance, keeping an intimate proximity to the audience. They will be able to feel the kehai of the dancer. In addition, She wears a perfume, developed by the olfactory artist, to emphasize her kehai (where she is, and what she does in the dark).

About the scent; the scent of a flower that blooms at night to attract moths.

Video directed by Kaname Onoyama.

electronics and composition: Yota Morimoto

composition : Noriko Koide

supervision : Akane Takada

dance : Chiaki Horita

olfactory art : Maki Ueda

 
(3) Shijuhatte

 Shijuhatte, refers to the catalogue of 48 erotic positions partners can take during the course of making love, as depicted in shunga (Japanese old erotic picture). Each position has a poetic name, giving us the impression of the rich imagination of the people in the Edo period. The choreography is based on these 48 positions, and the music is based on the sound that was actually heard in yukaku (Japanese red light district) where yujyo (the women who work in yukaku) were. Besides an amplified mini-koto and some small percussions and toys which are strongly associated with yujyo, we also developed a switch that triggers various sound effects. In addition, we've put elements of Ozashiki-Asobi (game or play with yujyo in yukaku), presenting the sophisticated culture that enjoy communication with yujyo though the games and plays more than sex itself back in that period.

About the scent; the scent of cherry blossom.

Video directed by Kaname Onoyama.

electronics : Yota Morimoto

composition : Noriko Koide

mini-koto : Akane Takada

dance : Chiaki Horita

olfactory art : Maki Ueda

percussion : Ryoko Imai

 



 
 

 

 

 
VRIJ 7 SEPT
Hoogtij/TEST Extra: Sukebeningen
19.00 - 23.00 uur
Toegang is gratis
 
In Sukebeningen onderzoeken de makers karakteristieke Japanse erotische kunst door verschillende media te gebruiken. Het culturele verschil tussen het Nederlandse en Japanse concept van erotiek wordt door muziek, dans, geluid, beeldende en geurkunst uitgewerkt. Deze keer werken de makers samen met een grafische stempelkunstenaar om twee nieuwe werken te ontwikkelen.
 
Met: Noriko Koide, Yota Morimoto, Akane Takada, Maki Ueda, Masaaki Oyamada.
 
 
  
FRI 7 SEPT
Hoogtij/TEST Extra: Sukebeningen
19.00 - 23.00 hrs. 
Entrance is free
 
For this session, named Sukebeningenthe makers used several different media to explore characteristic Japanese erotic art. The cultural difference between the Dutch and the Japanese concept of eroticism is portrayed via music, dance, sound, imagery and fragrance art. This time, the makers worked alongside a graphic stamp artist to come up with two new works.
 
 
With: Noriko Koide, Yota Morimoto, Akane Takada, Maki Ueda, Masaaki Oyamada.
 
 
 Het Nutshuis
 Riviervismarkt 5
 2513 AM Den Haag
 
070 345 90 90
                             
  
 
 
 

 


 


[leiden] *SOLD OUT
12th of February
18:00-dinner, 21:00-performance
@ Scheltema Complex (Marktsteeg 1, 2312 CS Leiden)
Entrance: 29.5 euro (including dinner)
reservation till 11th february 12:00

[amsterdam]
20th of March
20:00-
@Steim (Achtergracht 19, 1017 WL Amsterdam)
 
!!! Please do not wear perfume in the performance !!!

intervention (2013)

Maki Ueda (JP/NL)

 

To the traditional geisha, scents were a tool of her trade. During this causal intervention in the lobby, a geisha will entertain your sense of smell, using a variety of such tools and skills. But she is also a member of the Camera Japan audience, so you may well spot her watching a movie, having a drink or making chit-chat. Who knows, if you stick around, she may surprise you too!

CAMERA JAPAN Festival

I used: 
ylang ylang for the flowers on hair, 
agarwood for veil, rose for fur fan, 
sandalwood for the other wooden fan, 
ylang ylang for blue paper flowers I folded for kids, 
and amber for myself.

image

PHOTO: HENK JAN KAMERBEEK

 

image

PHOTO: HENK JAN KAMERBEEK

 

image

PHOTO: HENK JAN KAMERBEEK

 

image

PHOTO: HENK JAN KAMERBEEK

 

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled