About the artwork

In 2007, an old community center was renovated to create this community library to house a book collection donated by Fumio Tanaka, master carpenter famous for his research in wooden minka (traditional Japanese houses). Fumio Tanaka’s research of minka in Akiyamago from 50 years ago is displayed here. There is an installation piece of books lit up in seven colors, which Kang Airan says she created while thinking of the books as “expressing the authors themselves.” Books used in the exhibit and actual books, existing constructions and new elements for construction: Using the confrontational positioning of these elements, the entire space is set up to create a situation of wavering between the ordinary and extraordinary. This Triennale, memories from the 2006 “Abandoned Houses Project” will also be on display. Under the management of the local community, the exhibit will continue in the future.