-「発見」と「見立て」-
六本木に位置する「文喫」という書店の展示スペースにて行われた、秋保石(あきういし)の展示。
温泉地としても知られる宮城県仙台市の秋保エリア。そこで採掘される秋保石は火山灰や噴出物が凝結して出来た岩石である凝灰岩のひとつ。有名な大谷石と同じ分類だが、表情が全く異なり、小石や木片、粘土質のものなどが不規則に入り込む珍しい石。
今では18箇所あった採掘場も2箇所のみとなり、高齢の方が採掘を行なっている。衰退産業にもなりつつあるこの魅力的な石を少しでも広めたいと思い、何度も採掘場に通い、取材を重ねて冊子を制作すると共に秋保石の可能性を探る展示を行なった。
Exhibition of Akiu stone at the exhibition space of bookstore in Roppongi .The Akiu area of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, is known as a hot spring resort. Akiu stone is mined there. It is a type of tuff, a rock formed by condensation of volcanic ash and ejecta. It is classified in the same category as the famous Oyaishi, but has a completely different appearance. It is an unusual stone with irregular inclusions of pebbles, wood chips, clayey materials, and other irregularities.We wanted to promote this fascinating stone, which is now mined by elderly people and is becoming a declining industry, as much as possible, so we went to the mining site many times and conducted interviews to produce a booklet and an exhibition to explore the possibilities of Akiuishi.
壁面には取材を通して撮影した採掘場の写真や古いむかしの貴重な写真、制作途中のものなど今回のプロジェクトの全容がわかる写真を散りばめた。
主な使用用途は建築建材や内装材、ガーデニングの材料となるが、認知度を広めるためにまずは様々な加工や異素材との組み合わせなどを試みて、その実験品を展示した。その中で具体化できそうなものをいくつか絞り、実際に作品として作り上げていった
The walls are littered with photographs of the mining site taken through interviews, old and valuable photos from a bygone era, and items in the process of production, all of which give a full picture of this project.The main uses are as building materials, interior materials, and gardening materials, but in order to spread awareness of the material, we first tried various processing and combinations with different materials, and exhibited experimental products. Among them, we narrowed down a few that could be materialized and actually made them into works of art.
展示では、石の温かさや重量感など、実際に手に触れて欲しいという狙いもあり様々な破片を用意し持ち帰ってもらった。その代わりに募金箱を設置し、継続してこのような展示が行えるようご協力もいただいた。
The exhibition was intended to allow visitors to actually touch and feel the warmth and weight of the stones, so a variety of pieces were prepared for them to take home. In return, a donation box was set up, and cooperation was received so that this kind of exhibition could continue.
以下、冊子一部の抜粋。
Some excerpts from the booklet.
何度か採掘場に行き、基礎知識を蓄えた後に、実際に制作するものを図面化し想定してから再度採掘場へ向かう。想定したものがそのまま形になるということもあれば、その場で実際に石を触り、積み上げたり寝かしたり試しながら、即興的な構築を行い制作物を決めていくこともあった。
After visiting the mining site several times to accumulate basic knowledge, we would go back to the site to draw and envision what we would actually create. Sometimes, the envisioned piece would take shape as is, and other times, the participants would touch the stones, pile them up or lay them down, and improvise on the spot before deciding on the piece to be created.
この素晴らしい石材が今後も使用できるよう、引き続きPRする活動を進めていこうと思う。
I will continue to promote this wonderful stone so that it can be used in the future.
