Socio-economic impact
Fukutake House Asia Art Platform Diner, designed by Ryue Nishizawa
Setouchi Triennale, Japan 2013 & 2015
In collaboration with seven Asian arts residency centres, Asialink was invited to participate in Fukutake House Asia Art Platform, Setouchi Triennale 2013 and 2015. I curated a residency, exhibition, public programs and symposium that took place in an abandoned elementary school on Shodoshima Island, highlighting the aging population and economic decline in that region. The project combined art, architecture, food and community to draw visitation to the island and initiate real social change. In 2013 the artist in residence was Jackson Slattery and Chef was Andrew McConnell. In 2015 the artist was Naomi Eller and Chef was Adam Liaw. The project was visited by upwards of 1.2 million people and led to real socio-economic change including the re-opening of a previously abandoned school.
Snuff Puppets at Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, Japan, 2015. Photo courtesy Asialink Arts.
Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, 2015
The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale is the sister festival of Setouchi, located in the mountainous Niigata prefecture and aims to draw attention to the region which is suffering from an ageing population and economic decline. In 2015 I curated Asialink’s project that saw Snuff Puppets undertake a residency at Australia House and work with the local community to create and perform large-scale puppets based on local stories and myths. The resulting performance was attended by 6,375 people including Mr Bruce Miller, Australian Ambassador to Japan. John McDonald of the Sydney Morning Herald wrote "Nobody who witnessed the group's performance could see it as anything but a raging success."
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