"Odori" - An Illuminated Spinning Public Art Sculpture - Zoetrope

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About

Co-created by Takashi Iwasaki and Joe Kalturnyk

Iwasaki's narrative:

Once commonplace and readily accessible, some experiences become deeply missed when they are no longer within reach, especially when tied to childhood. For me, bon-odori evokes both melancholy and cherished memories. Bon-odori is a civic dance, performed annually across Japan in a circular formation for the past 500 years, to celebrate and honour the deceased.

As a child, I saw bon-odori as merely a festive gathering, filled with night markets and fun, unaware of its deeper meaning. As a teenager, its magic faded. Now living in Canada, decades later and a father myself, I often think about passing on my cultural heritage.

Recently, I introduced my children to bon-odori at the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba. This experience made me reflect on my own childhood and the importance of these traditions. Our recreation of this summer event during the fall for Nuit Blanche felt uniquely out of season, much like my belated appreciation of these memories.

This public artwork, inspired by the zoetrope—a pre-film animation device that creates the illusion of motion through spinning images—mirrors the revival of my childhood memories. It's driven by audience interaction, symbolizing how our participation reanimates past experiences. Audience members can direct the motion and speed of the zoetrope, as it is a manual device, no motors required.

Memories often appear more vivid and exaggerated than reality—a notion clearly reflected in this work.

Links

• Nuit Blanche Winnipeg nuitblanchewinnipeg.ca

Organizer

Nuit Blanche Winnipeg

Nuit Blanche Winnipeg is a free nighttime exploration and celebration of contemporary art held in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District and Downtown.

Since 2010 their exhibitions and events have brought thousands of art enthusiasts, cultural animators and citizens of Winnipeg together on one Saturday night each fall.

Artists, performers, galleries, cultural organisations and independent curators create and host their own events around the city. These events are always FREE, inclusive to the public and encourage the celebration of the arts in our community.