White neon, Film glass, Aluminum, Electric wire, IC, Time control program
510 x 5390 cm
Site specific commissioned work
2003
Courtesy TV Asahi Corporation and SCAI THE BATHHOUSE
Photo: Kunihiko Katsumata
The work consists of huge six digital counters with neon lights, each counter 3.2m tall. The digital counters progressively count from 9 to 1 and do not indicate '0'. Each counter counts at a different speed.
The background wall is illuminated with neon lights, and it changes its face by day and night. In the daytime, the background light is turned off and digital counters lit up with white neon lights are displayed. The scenery turns around in the nighttime. It displays black digital counters in the brightly lit white background.
The artwork shows the contrast of 'Life' and 'Death', and a different face in the day or night as well.
Tokyo is the city filled with too much life and Roppongi is the center of it. Mass media is sending too much information, and a TV station is the center of it.
Daytime Scene:
Roppongi Hills offers a daytime show in Roppongi; the place which is filled with too much life, and the artwork will make it more. A TV station is the base, from which too much information is being broadcasted. The artwork will paint over the TV station with 'too much light', displays 'life' and 'light' and offers an opportunity to think of 'Deeper Death'.
Nighttime Scene:
Roppongi is an area originally known for its entertaining aspect and filled with human desire at night much more than daytime. Miyajima dares to bring 'Death' to such time at night in Roppongi, and bring 'Darkness' to the center of mass media. The artwork will create a black hole of 'Death' and 'Darkness', and offers an opportunity to think of 'Deeper Life'.
Day and Night -The dynamism of the Scene-Roppongi and the artwork create the drama of 'Death' and 'Life'. It continues to change and completes with feelings and thoughts of people passing by.