Faris Nakamura

Hai, Chiizu, Kobe!

Metal, Concrete, Epoxy Paint

2015

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Challenged to create works of Japanese traditional “shitsurai” art (a set of furnishings for decorating a room or space) that make effective use of the Kobe’s waterfront setting, Faris Nakamura created and installed a large concrete and metal sculpture at Meriken Park, with hopes that people will come together and take photographs of Kobe’s beautiful skyline, where the city of Kobe meets the sea.

 

The sculpture resembles a deconstructed house with windows and doors that frame several iconic structures and sceneries at Meriken Park. A door frames the Red Kobe Port Tower, and the windows of various sizes frame Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, Mosaic Big Ferris Wheel, the port of Kobe and the sea. This sculpture embraces the people at Meriken Park and encourages them to take photographs of Kobe waterfront in its frames.

 

As this sculpture anchors itself in the middle of a busy walkway at Meriken Park, Faris is interested to see how people interact with, navigate and orientate themselves in the space as they encounter the sculpture.

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This artwork was awarded the Kobe Biennale Grand Prize.