MORI Arata

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MORI Arata

Participating Project	Local Creator Residency Program
Activity Based	Kanagawa
City / Place stayed	Tokyo
Period	2024.5 - 2024.7

Purpose of the residency

Tetsuya Yamashita, who shot former Prime Minister Abe, Tomohiro Kato, who committed the Akihabara massacre, and Boy A, who called himself as Sakakibara Seito. They were all born around 1983, and have one thing in common: they were part of the generation known as "Snapping 17-year-olds”. In this program, I plan to create a video work in which I, who was also born in 1983 and went abroad from being in social withdrawal as a youth, go on a journey to find another "me" living a completely different life in Japan. By transcending the boundaries between documentary and fiction, I intend to approach the theme of "division" from various angles, such as the division within the mind, the division between self and others, the division between generations, and the division of Japanese society itself. At the same time, I also intend to portray the fundamental power of human beings to overcome these barriers. 

Plan during the residency

• To explore my own identity, I revisit the places where I lived when I was younger, and listen to the stories of my school teachers and friends with whom I had relationships.
  
• I look for men and women currently around 40 years old. I interview these men and women from different backgrounds about their problems, their current lives, and explore their deep psychology.
• From among the men and women I met, I organise an “audition” and pick up one person who would be suitable for the other "I".
  
• Editing the visual material I shot.
  

Activities during the residency

Based on the theme of searching for my alter-ego from the Lost Generation, I met various people of the same generation as myself. It was really interesting to hear from people who had similar past experiences through our generation, such as the filmmaker and actor Shingo Ota, who was a  Hikikomori in his early twenties like myself, and a man I met though an internet forum, which is for people with mental problems. From the numerous people of the Los Generation that I met during this research period, I selected a few and interviewed them about loneliness and generation. The footage was exhibited in the open studio.

Outcome of the residency

I think this stay was a valuable experience where I was able to spend nearly three months in the privileged environment of TOKAS Residency. I could see my country from a different perspective than usual while spending time together with international artists. It wasn't the Tokyo city I normally see, but a brand new city placed in a new context. It has had a deep impact on my personal research and production.
In the future, I would like to further evolve this project developed through this residency for the TOKAS group exhibition in Hongo next year.

Creator Information