KUKITA Akane

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KUKITA Akane

Participating Project	Local Emerging Creator Residency Program
Activity Based	Chiba
City / Place stayed	Tokyo
Period	2025.1 - 2025.3

Purpose of the residency

In the past, I have focused on the fluidly changing forms of ornamentation as I have traveled between different countries and cultures, creating works with organic characteristics. For this residency, I will research the theme of “Ornament and Power,” with a particular focus on the ornamentation of the Imperial Crown Style architecture of the early Showa period. I will explore how different cultures intersected and created new meanings and roles, and reinterpret them through the production of drawings and other works, while collecting photos and other materials. In addition, based in the Ryogoku area, where I will stay for this residency, I will also conduct research on historical architecture and Japanese-style ornamentation in Tokyo, in order to bring new perspectives into my project.

Plan during the residency

• Research on the ornamentation of the Imperial Crown Style architecture and its background and philosophy.
• Research “Japanese-style ornamentation” related to the Ryogoku area (e.g., patterns seen in the Edo period, Yusoku Mon-yo pattern, etc.)
• Produce works including drawing and sculpture based on the research and the photo materials collected through the research. 

Activities during the residency

During my residency at TOKAS, I conducted research on the decorative elements of early Shōwa-era Teikan-style architecture under the theme of "Ornament and Power." I investigated how cross-cultural aesthetics merged and transformed in this architectural style. Based in the Ryogoku area, I also explored traditional Japanese motifs such as Edo-period patterns and courtly designs. These inquiries were supported by site visits and photographic documentation. From this research, I created drawings and small sculptural studies that examined the relationship between industrial, modern materials and traditional ornamentation. The residency provided a valuable opportunity to deepen my understanding of ornament’s role in shaping cultural identity, and to develop new directions in both artistic and theoretical practice.

Outcome of the residency

I was able to deepen our understanding of the symbolism and historical background of ornamentation through research on ornamentation centered on imperial crown style architecture and Japanese-style ornamentation rooted in both areas. In particular, it was a great achievement to understand how ornament has transformed and fluidly changed its meaning and form in different cultures and eras. On the other hand, there were some occasions when I was not able to conduct sufficient interviews and surveys due to insufficient prior coordination of the sites I visited. In the future, I'd like to deepen my expression by reciprocating between research and production, paying attention to the transformative nature of ornamentation and the structure of its reception.

Creator Information