INDEX
A Shared Drive: The Desire to Bring Joy as Artists
What did you feel after actually trying skill trade?
Yahata: Kokawa expresses himself through drums in the context of music, while I’ve been working with video in the context of art. Even though we seem to be doing completely different things in different fields, there are moments when it feels like we’re doing the same thing.
Kokawa：It’s rare to meet someone with the same level of intensity and seriousness about art. For me, the only criteria I use to evaluate anything is how much care and attention has been put into it. With her, you can see her dedication in every little move, even in something as simple as setting up a ladder.
For example, in the culinary world, it’s like Kyoto’s famous Kikunoi restaurant. When you dine at a top-tier establishment like that, you realize that expressing something and moving people is really about this level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Yahata: Even among fellow artists, there aren’t many people with whom, while talking, you can dive into the finer details. When we talk, the conversation naturally leads to areas of dedication that aren’t immediately visible on the surface.
Kokawa： You’re always putting effort into those details that no one else can see.
Yawata： With Kokawa, I sometimes feel that we might be able to reach places that are still unseen. When we did the live performance together at the Kyoto Art Center, based on the reactions we received from the audience, I felt like we might have glimpsed part of that potential. It’s not just about discussing things verbally; it’s a great joy to be able to materialize those ideas into works of art. When the work takes form and you receive feedback from others, you really feel the joy and significance of creating.
The Triangle Yahata Aki: Don’t Call it Beshbarmak, 2022
Kokawa： With Yahata, we share the same sense of joy in both creating and putting our work out into the world. There are a lot of artists who stop at self-satisfaction, but there aren’t many who are able to see how their work impacts society and interacts with it on a broader level.
Kokawa： I believe that the desire to “be of service to others” is at the core of creation. There’s a part of making that is for the audience and a part that is for self-satisfaction; the balance of these varies from artist to artist. With Yahata, our balance is similar, which makes it interesting.
Yawata: That’s true. I’m always thinking about the audience when I create my work.
