BAKERU: Transforming Spirits
JAPAN HOUSE LOS ANGELES|2019
WOW held the "BAKERU: Transforming Spirits" exhibition via Japan House Los Angeles from July 17th to October 20th in 2019. In addition to creating an interactive video installation titled "BAKERU", we compiled a set of art and craft pieces from Japan's Tohoku region which became the backdrop for the event. We also organized a related exhibition in multicultural Los Angeles which included traditional deer dancing performances from Iwate Prefecture (one of the motifs of the BAKERU project) as well as talk events, which together enabled visitors to gain a deep understanding of cultural backgrounds while experiencing the show. As a spinoff project, we then produced a movie documenting a collaborative performance between deer dance performers and Native American dance performers. An experimental video approach was taken in expressing the universality behind the culture of transformation and prayer through ornamental arts, dance, and music. ▶BAKERU













Credit
Producer : Takuya Inagaki Creative Director : Kaoru Kudo Planner / Technical Director : Hiroki Sato Programmer : Seiya Takasawa [Video crew] Director : Daisuke Takahira Camera : Atsushi Ishitsuka (cap LLC.) Still photo : Hideo Okochi (TOHOKU STANDARD) Editor : Rin Matsunaga Producer : Takuya Inagaki Assistant producer : Misato Hara [Exhibition Staff] Presented and Organized by JAPAN HOUSE LOS ANGELES Art Direction: WOW Sponsored: ANA (All Nippon Airways), Panasonic Curatorial support provided by tateito-yokoito LLC., TOHOKU STANDARD In Cooperation with: Gyozanryu Maikawa Shishiodori Tokyo Shishiodori Oga City Baba no Taue Odori Preservation Society FabLab Sendai FLAT Fukunaga Print Co., Ltd. cap LLC. Ito Yutaka Special Thanks: Hollywood & Highland