Interview with Mr. Utagawa from the Kurashiki City Tourism Division, organizer of "Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki"
I interviewed Kazuki Utagawa (Mr. Utagawa) from the Kurashiki City Tourism Division, which organizes this project.
Background of "Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki"
What led to the implementation of this project?
Utagawa (honorific omitted)
The trigger was the Setouchi Triennale in 2019.
Kurashiki City has cultural and artistic facilities such as Ohara Museum of Art and Kurashiki City Art Museum, as well as Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts where one can study art.
With the large-scale art festival taking place in the Setouchi region, we thought, could we not widely promote Kurashiki's artistic culture by utilizing these facilities?
Thus, "Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki" began as a project to enjoy Kurashiki's culture from a tourism perspective.
New initiatives starting in 2023
This event has been held in the past, but are there any differences from before 2022?
Utagawa
The first difference is the inclusion of a puzzle-solving element.
When people hear "art," many might feel that it is somewhat highbrow.
Additionally, since the number of target spots has increased in 2023, we were considering how to encourage circulation.
Therefore, by incorporating learning elements through puzzle-solving, we aimed to create opportunities for those who have no chance to engage with art to participate.
Also, incorporating sweets inspired by art is a first for 2023.
From the participating sweet shops, there were voices saying, “If possible, we would like to display the artworks.”
However, considering the risks of moving actual pieces, I thought it would be difficult to realize.
So, when I consulted with the Ohara Museum of Art, they agreed to let us display reproductions of the artworks.
In fact, the frames are borrowed from Kurashiki City Art Museum for the setup.
I see, that’s how it came to be. Did the shops choose the artworks to be used as motifs?
Utagawa
Yes. They selected from the paintings that could be borrowed from the Ohara Museum of Art.
Some shops reflect the appearance of the artworks in their sweets, while others are inspired by the stories behind the artworks and recreate that concept in their sweets.
The restaurant owners at the sweet spots are very cooperative, and I often hear comments like, “I love this piece and have been to the gallery…”.
They are actively involved in wanting to enhance this event through sweets.
I hope people will "stroll" into places they usually don't enter
Looking at the art spots, there is a variety from museums to hotels.
Utagawa
Yes! Some spots are free, so I recommend starting there.
I hope people will visit spots they usually don’t have the opportunity to enter.
For example, hotels are places you usually don’t enter unless you have a chance to stay.
You might wonder if it’s okay to enter without staying, but it’s perfectly fine to come in just to see the artworks.
Using "Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki" as a chance to engage with art
So, how would you like people to enjoy this event?
Utagawa
I believe this event is a chance for those who love art and sweets, as well as for those visiting art spots for the first time.
For those visiting the spots for the second or third time, I hope they will enjoy new discoveries that are different from before.
In fact, there are many places in Kurashiki where you can enjoy art beyond the designated art spots.
For example, in the Mizushima area with sweet spots, there are eight public artworks (Art Walk of Green and Water) along the Mizushima Rinkai Railway.
Please enjoy exploring the spots!
Conclusion
Through the interview with Mr. Utagawa from the Kurashiki City Tourism Division, I felt the desire to let many people know about Kurashiki's artistic culture through "Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki."
I have personally visited the Ohara Museum of Art many times.
However, I often feel nervous about entering galleries, thinking whether it’s okay to go in when I’m not knowledgeable about art.
By becoming a target spot for initiatives like puzzle-solving, it has become much easier and more approachable for first-time visitors.
"Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki" will be held until November 30, 2023.
I hope to enjoy an artistic autumn in Kurashiki through this campaign.
Data on "Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki 2023"
| Name | Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 3, 2023 - November 30, 2023 |
| Location | Kurashiki, Kojima, Mizushima, Tamashima, Mabi |
| Participation Fee (tax included) | Depends on the facility's admission fee |
| Website | Art for a Stroll in Kurashiki 2023 |
