MANILA—In anticipation of Manila Biennale:OPENCITY 2018, Carlos Celdran, in partnership with WSK: The Festival of the Recently Possible, The Japan Foundation Asia Center and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts is bringing Katsuki Nogami’s “Yamada Taro” project to Manila on Oct 27, 2017 at 4:00p.m.
Known for his unconventional walking tours, Celdran mapped a special route around Intramuros, starting from General Luna, Muralla St., leading to universities in the vicinity, such as Mapúa University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Lyceum of the Philppines University, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
The “Yamada Taro” project by Japanese artist Katsuki Nogami explores ideas of identity and the anonymity in technology. “Yamada Taro” is a placeholder Japanese name, like “Juan Dela Cruz” in the Philippines. To create “placeholder people,” Nogami attaches iPads to people’s faces. The performers, who he calls as “friends,” will take photos of strangers they encounter. Each photo will appear on the iPad screens, “transferring” one’s identity to the performers.
Nogami’s interactive installation is part of WSK Axis 2017 featured exhibition INTERSTICES: Manifolds of the In-between at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of Design and Arts (6th floor, Hallway). Sponsored by The Loop by Power Mac Center, the show features a mix of Japanese and Filipino artists—Ryoichi Kurokawa, Houxo Que, Tsuyoshi Hisakado, Pauline and Ivan Despi, Tad Ermitaño, Ian Carlo Jaucian and Derek Tumala. Show runs until Nov 4, 2017.
Manila Biennale:OPENCITY 2018 is a partnership between all major art events in Manila during February Arts Month of next year. #MNLBNL2018 has connected and collated the scheduled programming of Intramuros Administration, The Cultural Center of the Philippines, Anthology Architecture and Design Festival, #VivaManila, and Fringe Festival Manila.
