11.22 Sun
"Methods of Production”
Takashi Asai × Rika Fujiki
On November 22, 2009, the fourth lecture of Tokyo Art School was held with two managers of arts production companies - Takashi Asai; manager of UPLINK located in Shibuya and Rika Fujiki; manager of Mujin-to Productions located in Koenji.
The first speaker was Mr. Takashi Asai, executive president of UPLINK. He introduced his company as a culture complex facility that includes a café, gallery and small cinema. He said,“I hoped that my company was a symbol of sub culture, in contrast with Bunkamura, located nearby UPLINK and a symbol of established culture.”He also referred to WebDICE, a Consumer Generated website which allows anyone to advertise events on the top page, as long as they are registered in the HP. According to Mr. Asai’s research, approximately three to four thousand people access WebDICE everyday, which is about fifty thousand people every month. In addition to webpage links to Twitter that is very popular nowadays, the site operates very effectively to advertise events. He pointed out the uniqueness of his service as an interactive hub of sorts in which not only the editorial staff researches and advertises arts events but general members also voluntarily upload information and reviews.
The second speaker, Rika Fujiki, spoke about how she had worked at a famous Tokyo gallery for fifteen years and how she started her own business about four years ago. She produces several art exhibitions per year in her tiny gallery. She emphasized her interest in creating products which would accompany exhibitions, including specially made gifts for supporters. She spoke about a definition of‘service’as giving multiple options to people. So, she does not make contracts with any of the gallery artists.“I don’t want to bind artists, I want them to gain experiences at various galleries freely.”Recently Mujinto has begun to open daily, attracting more people as well as occasionally being invited to exhibit at other galleries in Tokyo, in a kind of ‘drift’.
After the presentations, a discussion between the two took place, and after the discussion, many interesting questions and comments were put forward from the audience.
About the meaning of“between rough and ice”, the subtitle of UPLINK, Mr. Asai explained that it was a motto, originally taken from the film‘Wittgenstein”by Derek Jarman, that perfectly captures his ideal about art as something from the‘street’, while also pointing to the difficulties of fund raising. On being asked why he began his business, Mr Asai spoke about the significance of wishing to simply share certain values with others, and that profit-making is never his primary objective. He said that this attitude may have come from his experience as a member of a theatrical company which often toured abroad in his younger days.“The reason why there are no culture complexes like the ICA in London is that companies don’t advertise in such facilities. Companies want to categorize customers to make money, and people adapt in their own ways. People should act more freely and totally.”Asked what both do when artists they work with make trouble or are embroiled in some difficult issue, both speakers answered that they stand with artists. In today’s globalised situation, both guests strongly emphasized their belief in their own selection of artists and works, as reflections of what they believe in. The afternoon was very interesting and provided a good opportunity to think about art from the term production.
"Methods of Production”
Takashi Asai × Rika Fujiki
On November 22, 2009, the fourth lecture of Tokyo Art School was held with two managers of arts production companies - Takashi Asai; manager of UPLINK located in Shibuya and Rika Fujiki; manager of Mujin-to Productions located in Koenji.
Takashi Asai
The first speaker was Mr. Takashi Asai, executive president of UPLINK. He introduced his company as a culture complex facility that includes a café, gallery and small cinema. He said,“I hoped that my company was a symbol of sub culture, in contrast with Bunkamura, located nearby UPLINK and a symbol of established culture.”He also referred to WebDICE, a Consumer Generated website which allows anyone to advertise events on the top page, as long as they are registered in the HP. According to Mr. Asai’s research, approximately three to four thousand people access WebDICE everyday, which is about fifty thousand people every month. In addition to webpage links to Twitter that is very popular nowadays, the site operates very effectively to advertise events. He pointed out the uniqueness of his service as an interactive hub of sorts in which not only the editorial staff researches and advertises arts events but general members also voluntarily upload information and reviews.
Rika Fujiki
The second speaker, Rika Fujiki, spoke about how she had worked at a famous Tokyo gallery for fifteen years and how she started her own business about four years ago. She produces several art exhibitions per year in her tiny gallery. She emphasized her interest in creating products which would accompany exhibitions, including specially made gifts for supporters. She spoke about a definition of‘service’as giving multiple options to people. So, she does not make contracts with any of the gallery artists.“I don’t want to bind artists, I want them to gain experiences at various galleries freely.”Recently Mujinto has begun to open daily, attracting more people as well as occasionally being invited to exhibit at other galleries in Tokyo, in a kind of ‘drift’.
After the presentations, a discussion between the two took place, and after the discussion, many interesting questions and comments were put forward from the audience.
About the meaning of“between rough and ice”, the subtitle of UPLINK, Mr. Asai explained that it was a motto, originally taken from the film‘Wittgenstein”by Derek Jarman, that perfectly captures his ideal about art as something from the‘street’, while also pointing to the difficulties of fund raising. On being asked why he began his business, Mr Asai spoke about the significance of wishing to simply share certain values with others, and that profit-making is never his primary objective. He said that this attitude may have come from his experience as a member of a theatrical company which often toured abroad in his younger days.“The reason why there are no culture complexes like the ICA in London is that companies don’t advertise in such facilities. Companies want to categorize customers to make money, and people adapt in their own ways. People should act more freely and totally.”Asked what both do when artists they work with make trouble or are embroiled in some difficult issue, both speakers answered that they stand with artists. In today’s globalised situation, both guests strongly emphasized their belief in their own selection of artists and works, as reflections of what they believe in. The afternoon was very interesting and provided a good opportunity to think about art from the term production.
Summary by Akiko Mori (Shikkai-ya Intern)
English proofreading and editing: Roger McDonald (AIT).
