Toward a New Way of connecting "Life" and "Production"

6okken will hold "Dai 6okkan," an art festival focusing on the eve of creation, from March 1 to March 31, 2024, at Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture. 6okken is a collective that integrates living, expressive activities, and facility management based on six houses in Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture. It operates an artist-run residency based on the concept of "a place to create the process and preliminary stage of production". The "Dai 6okkan" art festival consists of three programs, "Program-01: Observing," "Program-02: Living," and "Program-03: Sharing," based at the facility and two venues in the Forest and Lake Paradise. The final program, "Program-03: Sharing," will be held on March 30 and 31 as the culmination of the exhibition, and only this part will be open to the public.

Since 6okken began its activities in 2022, more than 1,000 artists and creators have spent time at 6okken, sharing their works and productions through camps, residencies, and events. Through the month-long "Dai 6okkan" art festival program, participants will share their reflections one step before proceeding to production, discovering a "sense that only they believe in" and bringing home "a new way to connect life and production.

Contents

Program-01: Observing

Inviting participants from the "Yamanashi Media Arts Awards" and researchers, this program will open a space for thinking and discussing the technique of "omission" - what not to say and how to trust the audience. On March 16th and 17th of the third week, anthropologist Mr. Shu Fujita and Derrida researcher Mr. Tohsei Moriwaki will be invited to build interdisciplinary connections among various practices, using the earlier discussions as a starting point.

Program-02: Living

18 artists gathered from around the world will be divided into three groups, engaging in a 14-day residency program. Through collaboration, they will explore and practice aspects of their living environment (life, family, economic activities) surrounding their expressive acts.

Program-03: Sharing

During the final two days of the event on March 30th and 31st, a showcase and performance-based festival will be held at the "Paradise of Forest and Lake". Artists will present their practices for each building as performances and workshops, allowing the audience to revisit the entire process.

Participating Artists

Reo Anzai, Astrid Braide Eriksson, Adam Gustafsson, Miyu Imashuku, Takuma Oue, Hazuki Ota, Masami Kato, Gabi Schillig, Daisuke Kawashima, Kanata Goto, Risa Komiya Marina, Soh Soen, Ayaka Toyoshima, Ippei Nakao, Kento Nito, Shin Hanagata, Karu Miyoshi, Hyejeong Yun