AKONITO

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AKONITO

Participating Project	Exchange Residency Program (Japan-based Creators sent abroad)
City / Place stayed	Brussels / WIELS
Period	2024.1 - 2024.4, 2024.9 - 2024.12

Purpose of the residency

Belgium, where I will be staying, is the birthplace of Beguinehof. The Beguine religion took many different forms and responses depending on the time period and region. Some of them were devout believers, but did not belong to any monastery, living in the secular world following the teachings. Despite the various restrictions imposed on them, the Beguines of Beguinhof lived out their faith as a community, while accumulating knowledge, doing handicrafts, and engaging in economic activities.
By actually visiting the Beguine churches that still exist in Belgium and the sites of the Beguine churches, I would like to search for something irreplaceable that occurs at a major turning point in people's lives and ways of living.

Plan during the residency

• Research the remaining Belgian Beguine Abbey (begijnhof), currently used as a museum.
• While researching the themes of the "begijnhof," "contemporary feminism," and "gender differences in Belgian history," we will hold regular discussions with experts to see if we can find commonalities between or among the three themes.
• The role of faith and body ornamentation in Europe and Japan, respectively, will be examined in the context of life in Belgium.
• Scarification and documentation of its procedure (if permission is granted)
• In the project I will document the process of skin regeneration through scarification and the physical and intellectual transformation of myself in the course of my research on the Begijnen, and explore the intersection of the two.

Activities during the residency

I visited Begijnhof, which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and also explored museums and churches related to the Beguines. Additionally, I made efforts to visit local history museums specific to the regions with Begijnhofs, where I conducted research on the circumstances of the Beguines’ mutual help communes throughout history. During the Christmas season, I attended public events held at Begijnhof, as many as possible. Moreover, throughout my visits, I documented scenes and motifs that piqued my interest through photography and video.

Outcome of the residency

I was able to visit all the Begijnhofs registered by UNESCO, as well as the churches located within each of these Begijnhofs. Through a contact I made at the Beguinage Church in Mechelen, I received many documents related to the restoration of churches. Additionally, at the Beguinage Church in St-Truiden, I was guided through her residence by one of the inhabitants I met at the Christmas concert. The staff at WIELS also provided me with a personal tour of the Begijnhof in Anderlecht. Through these activities, I have developed an interest in exploring the past and present operations, issues, outcomes, and solutions related to community-based shelters in Japan. One of the most memorable experiences occurred when a woman living in the Begijnhof invited me to her home. She shared with me that “When I was a child, many Beguines still lived here, and I met some of them in person. They were all fierce feminists.” This conversation left a significant impression on me.

Creator Information