Matsufusa House | Moeji Tsuchiya "Hoichi" Interim Progress Point
An exhibition showcasing the interim progress of animator Moeji Tsuchiya's long-term animation project "Hoichi," based on the story of Mimi-nashi Hoichi, was held at Kinkan Gallery.Summary
The Kinkan Gallery hosted the solo exhibition "“Hoichi” Interim Progress Point" by animation artist Moeji Tsuchiya, featuring the latest updates on his long-running animation project, "Hoichi," which began in 2011 and is based on the tale of Mimi-nashi Hoichi (The Earless Monk Hoichi). Tsuchiya uses a unique animation style mixing paper cutting and drawing to visualize the sounds and narration of the blind musician Hoichi. The work explores fundamental elements of expression and the body, such as sound and sight. For instance, the sound of Hoichi's biwa is visualized as air vibrating and expanding circles that transform the space, suggesting that sound possesses its own worldview capable of transporting the audience to a different reality. The exhibition displayed concept notes, framed original artworks, and sketches, revealing Tsuchiya's ideas for visualizing the monk's sound and narrative. Furthermore, the full work is expected to tackle the narrative's unique structure concerning visible and invisible elements, particularly the relationship between the sightless Hoichi, the invisible ghosts, and the monk capable of writing characters that obscure sight. The article concludes by noting that, like Yuri Norstein's "The Overcoat," the fragments shown of "Hoichi" possess an innovation that advances animation expression, raising high expectations for its completion.
(Source：artscape)