The eyes of the wind is a portable, ultra-light exhibition designed for maximum portability.
For its first iteration, the exhibition featured works by 20 artists in Tbilisi, Georgia, a country with deep ties to Japan. In October 2022, when the exhibition took place, Georgia was experiencing an influx of Russian refugees due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Amidst this turbulent backdrop, the idea of holding an international art exhibition felt fraught with uncertainty. However, we were able to exchange ideas with Georgian artists in Tbilisi and transport our artworks, which we saw as embodiments of our perspectives.
The second iteration took place in Istanbul, Turkey, neighboring Georgia. Again, featuring works by 20 artists, the exhibition traveled throughout Turkey, and we negotiated the permanent installation of these small artworks in various locations such as cafes, kebab shops, bookstores, and public ferries. The entire process was meticulously documented through photographs and videos.
Encased in 5 cm square boxes, the artworks by 20 artists pass through airport security and journey to distant lands. The exhibition itself is centered around the "inconvenience" of being confined to such small boxes, and the various unplanned events that occur as a result of traveling to new and unfamiliar places. It's akin to a road movie in cinema, or the concept of "work in progress" in theater, adapted for visual art.
Each window is directly connected to the urban landscape, making the artworks visible from the outside and essentially transforming them into public art. The gaze emanating from these window-mounted works is both that of the artist and a member of the public, transcending boundaries between the private and public spheres, as well as national borders, to become rooted in the respective city.
The views from these windows will be compiled into an archive. This publication will serve as both a record of the exhibition and a unique walking map.