INDEX
Finding Comfort in the Fear
One might find that confronting frightening things can be oddly reassuring. It may be that being surrounded by what scares us is a more optimal solution than facing it directly or holding it within ourselves. This insight is vividly illustrated by one of the collaboration pieces with the late Fujio Akatsuka, “Keiichi Tanaami x Fujio Akatsuka: TANAAMI!! AKATSUKA!! / Tanaami Tea Ceremony” Tent. Although it was exhibited outside the main venue and thus appears out of sequence, it feels very much connected to the themes of Chapter 10.
The moment I stepped into the tent, which was filled with unsettling imagery, I was enveloped in an astonishing sense of reassurance. Being inside the eerie objects made the distinction between inside and outside seem to reverse, causing the figures to appear as protective deities from within. Unfortunately, this tent was only displayed during the private preview, but it provided a clear understanding of why the artist persistently manifests grotesque imagery, aligning perfectly with the concept of the “Baku’s Amulet.”
