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O-SAISEN

O-SAISEN at IZUMO TAISHA SHRINE, SHIMANE
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Description
I always thought that symbol used for torii *1, the gate of the Shinto shrine, resembles the Chinese character for the Japanese currency, yen *2. I posted the fictitious notes with my self-portrait that created as the measure which measures the value of an art work itself to the offertory box of various places. I created a video series "O-SAISEN," with a hope to transform the fake value to something that has genuine value. By offering o-saisen, even if it was fake, I tried to make a connection with what people believe as the long lasting supremacy called Shinto shrine, and asked for their support from the authoritative power to authenticate my fake money.

神社の鳥居が「円」の形に似ていると思った。作品の価値そのものを測る尺度として自身の顔を描き込んだオリジナルの紙幣を制作していた私は、各地の賽銭箱にその紙幣を投函して回った。 賽銭という神頼み的な行為を通して意図しているのは、古代から続く神社というシステムと繋がることで正統な後ろ盾(=権威)を獲得し、なんの裏付けもない架空の紙幣を本物へと変容させることにある。