Takashima Chi | "Seduction by Space" by Tyler Coburn, Taro Mizushima, Wataru Naganuma, and Jiro Sasaki
Tyler Coburn's installation and performance explore the complex relationship between infectious diseases and colonial rule through the lens of Nanban candlesticks and lichens.Summary
The exhibition features the work "Candlestick Man" by American artist Tyler Coburn, composed of an installation and a performance. The work is based on the "Nanban candlestick," a symbol from the 16th century representing Portuguese traders. Coburn focused on the lichens covering a monument on Tanegashima Island, viewing them as a "smallpox-infected stone monument." This perspective leads to a narrative about cultural contact, the spread of smallpox, and the complex relationship with colonial rule. Coburn collected the lichens to make candles, which were lit on the Nanban candlesticks during the performance by actor Wataru Naganuma. This act serves as a beacon to illuminate invisible history while also suggesting the ephemeral nature of the performance. The decision not to record the performance at all creates an ambivalent attitude that prompts reflection on what was "left behind." Through cultural artifacts and the lichens on their surfaces, the work redefines historical witnesses and challenges a human-centric view of history.
(Source：artscape)