INDEX
Chapter 3: “Storytelling” — A Tale of Navigating a City Maze
On the fourth floor, the exhibition is capped off by the installation piece “under city,” a project that has been ongoing since 2023. “under city” features footage of skaters navigating nine underground spaces in Tokyo, edited to create the illusion of exploring a vast subterranean labyrinth. The exhibition uses five monitors scattered throughout a dark room to allow visitors to reexperience the sensations of sound and light in these underground environments, and to explore how attention is directed in such spaces. This piece stands out as a highlight of the “SIDE CORE” exhibition, and you should definitely take the time to sit down and watch it carefully. The nearly 20-minute viewing experience will feel like a cinematic journey, and the time will pass in the blink of an eye.
So what kind of film is it? It’s science fiction! Skaters clad in protective gear, equipped with lighting equipment, solemnly descend secret staircases. Faced with the underground labyrinth, they tighten their expressions and begin their cautious descent. Their presence evokes the image of a “daring exploration team landing on an alien planet for humanity’s survival.”
Underground spaces like rainwater reservoirs are dark corners of the city unknown to most people. Even though we live above them and rely on them during heavy rains, we rarely think about them. It struck me that we might be remarkably indifferent and unguarded about our urban surroundings.
These skaters cut through and attempt to conquer these spaces. It’s not on foot, nor by bicycle, but on skateboards. Skateboards are meant for navigating alleys and uncovering overlooked spots. By scanning the city’s underground spaces, they explore the periphery of the world and, ultimately, confirm their own place at its center. This is the story that unfolds.
On the same fourth floor, there’s a bucket placed on a pedestal without any explanation. Curious if it’s there to catch leaks, I took a peek and found a hole in the bottom, through which I could see the sound sculpture “Time for Computers and Bulldozers” from the lower floor. When I brought my head close, the rolling metal sound of the ball became pleasantly mellow. I’m not sure if this is how it’s meant to be enjoyed, but it somehow made me feel like I got a little bonus.
