2nd，Goldfish Photo Art Exhibition in Kokura Castle

Saturday, October 28 – Tuesday, November 5, 2023
Kokura Castle, Kitakyushu City
Number of works: approximately 60

Goldfish Photo Art Exhibition at the Castle
Goldfish have a 600-year history in Japan.
This exhibition is a collaboration of two historical cultures

In 2023, Kitakyushu City celebrated its 60th anniversary, so Kokura Castle was decorated with projection mapping and the Kokura Castle Bamboo Akari.
Many events were also held in the neighborhood, including a performance by the Heisei Nakamura-za Theater in the park.
This exhibition, the second to be held at Kokura Castle, featured approximately 60 works, including a two-meter-long noren and works printed on large furoshiki wrapping cloth.

“Jun*Juane” is one artist that unites two artists.

Jun Iwasaki, a photographer who has been working on the theme of goldfish since 2006, and
Tae Morikawa, who has been painting pictures on the theme of endangered species and nature, share a common approach to art and present their work as one artist.

Jun Iwasaki is the son of a goldfish shop owner.
Tae Morikawa is an environmental activist and recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award, Japan’s highest award regarding the SDGs.
These two people, who grew up in completely different environments, have their own perspectives on life and are challenged to share their values.

What perspectives should we have in order to create a sustainable society?

Ornamental fish are creatures created by humans.
What people explore and create is a mixture of selfishness and great technology.
Not that it is good or bad, but what is our responsibility for creating it and how should we pass it on to the next generation?
I am engaged in art activities while searching for such unanswered questions.

Like ornamental fish, there are many things in the world created to enrich people.
How should we, who created them, live?

The conflict between the two is endless, but their works have been praised as “healing” and “beautiful”.