KYOTO INTERNATIONAL FILM AND ART FESTIVAL

In October 1999, the late avant-garde artist Shozo Shimamoto was granted land and facilities at the Shinnishinomiya Yacht Harbor by the Hyogo Prefectural Government to start a bottle-throwing performance which involves painting on a concrete campus for 100 years. Continuing this project 100 years signifies that there has been peace during that time. When the work is completed, it will be a sign of peace.
The AU Group has continued the tradition of the annual bottle-throwing performance, now in its 23rd year. This video was created on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at the Shinnishinomiya Yacht Harbor with Tamayo Shimada, as well as Kenta Oka and Taizo, who had kept contact with Shozo Shimamoto, for display at the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art.

What is AU X Shozo Shimamoto "A"? This is different name for atobutsu (dirty money). The word ato is a slang term from the Jin and Song dynasties in China, meaning "this" or "that," and atobutsu was used to mean "such-and-such thing," avoiding the direct mention of the name of the thing (from Kotobank). In this case, atobutsu is a slang pronoun. Shimamoto was always questioning the value and authority of finished works. In other words, this is a rebellion against the authority of Western art of the time. The "A" is used to present Shimamoto's interpretation of art, which rejects and expresses all the authoritative ways of expression in the world. As another meaning, Shimamoto said that "A" (あ) has the most beautiful shape among the hiragana characters. The "あ" or "A" that comes first no matter what is very meaningful. The "A" is filled with Shimamoto's thoughts and feelings, and since we are now living in a challenging environment due to COVID-19, we are going back to the basics and rethinking the value of many things, which is why focus was placed on "A" this time.

AU affiliated artists
Kenta Oka, Tamayo Shimada, Taizo