Hiro Takahashi
Story continue: Soul House
I am often asked what my Soul House is and why I call it. I always say it is a long story and yet it is very important and core of my work.
The first motivation to create something symbolic in my childhood memory took shape when I returned from Japan after 8 years absent from homeland.
As a child, visiting grandparents in rural area where Kura, traditional storage house and Shinto shrine stood grand amongst lower residential building always gave me impression of solidarity and peacefulness. So when I discovered that many Kura were knocked down and new houses and roads developed around sacred Shinto shrine and its woods, it was a blow in my head. I also found many places had changed and former friends and neighbours moved away from area I thought, my home-base. I felt lost.
It could be desperate reason I wanted to re-create images I knew with clay. Many cultures did produce miniature household and their livelihood with clay for burial items, but my intention was to tell stories of the world I cherished. I imagined I became very small figure and start building a house. A proper foundation, walls I woven clay like tapestry , roof and beams, like real house. When it finished and stood, ready to cut out tiny windows and door , I imagined I could hear sound of drum and bamboo flute in village festival and children's laughter.
The process of making those houses took a long time and during the time I felt communicating with people, animals and birds I knew. At the beginning I tried to work non-stop to prevent clay drying and shrinking once I start assembling, I felt exhausted and as if I poured out all my energy, but I was extremely pleased as if my sanctuary was rescued. Each piece had my story and part of me. My soul has dedicated.
Theme of restore against demolishing familiarity must be rooted me for all the time. Last years, I noticed so many trees were fell and so many animals and birds were driven out their home. I wanted create story of those lives and come up with ideas to paint those images with glazes on Soul House. With sunset, sky and woods I let animals and birds in and pray for their lives.