Contextual Statement: Unstable Tanuki - Michan Fukushima
Unstable Tanuki is about the trickster and how unpredictable the trickster can become, as tricksters are known for using deceptive techniques to deceive audiences through the use of energy manipulation.
My idea is derived from the late 18th century of Japan where the Tanuki (Racoon Dog) was renowned as mischievous shape-shifters haunting and possessing humans and then later on towards the 20th century being famous for promoting prosperity and fortune. The Tanuki is a trickster who doesn't behave as it should - using illusions to trick audiences turning leaves into currency to satisfy its own selfish cravings, the currency then returning to its worthless form when the trickster vacates the scene. By Soga Shōhaku 曽我蕭白 (1730 - 1781). (n.d.). Tanuki - Japanese Trickster & Spook, Originally Evil, Now Icon of Generosity & Prosperity. Retrieved November 01 2016, from http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/tanuki.shtml#origins
My work embodies this deception by encouraging people to expend their own kinetic energy on the device and playing on the audiences misconceptions of how the device in the project will act when the on switch is pressed expecting a reward when pressed however left receiving nothing in return. By reducing the size of the displacement. (n.d.). CHAPTER 7. Retrieved November 01, 2016, from http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy121/LectureNotes/Chapter07/Chapter7.html
Influenced by the documentary film Waking Life this opened up many paths of exploration for me. I found Waking Life vital to understanding the many forms and mediums the Trickster envelops. One of the mediums used that stood out to me was the use of portals, in my display it is setup in an enclosed walled space with walls white and empty symbolising the entry from one form of reality into another using death as a portal. Linklater, R. (Director). (n.d.). Waking life [Video file].
I met a man named Shahram whilst working who had been a shopkeeper in Iran when the war started, he had gone from honest merchant to illegal black market dealer moving to New Zealand and became a chef, Shahram’s story felt so similar to the Tanuki I decided to listen further, After becoming a prosperous chef and working many long years he told me at one point whilst working he dropped, dead, for 20 minutes, he described what death was like to me, he told me “Death was like a white portal.” Because of this story I decided to use white as the wall color. Fukushima, M. (2016, November 01). Shahram's Story. Speech presented at Story of a shopkeeper in Eastridge Mall, Auckland City.
Shahram's Story as told to Michan
Because I had decided to look into a energy based theme. I thought it necessary to understand the ideas involved with energy manipulation and how it influences my project. Dealing with energy moving from one form to another I decided that Transmutation would be important to understand. Plainly Transmutation is the action of changing or the state of being changed into another form.(n.d.). Retrieved 2016, November 01, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transmutation Transmutation. (n.d.). Retrieved 2016, November 01, from http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Te-Va/Transmutation.html Other forms of Transmutation include Dimensional, Nuclear, Biological and Species. I decided to focus on the Nuclear because it deals with energy manipulation. Reading through Charles Darwins Journals on Transmutation discussed Biological and Species Transmutation although it was not closely related to my theme I believe it necessary to understand the meaning through multiple perspectives.(n.d.). Retrieved 2016, November 01, from http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=CUL-DAR121.- Transmutation. Today’s alchemy known as Modern Alchemy. Takes Uranium and transmutes it into valuable elements such as Plutonium, Xenon, Kryptone and Strontium these are a few of the materials however leaves behind harmful radioactive waste once the elements are acquired. This shows relation to how the Tanuki deceive people with leaves disguised as gold turning into useless waste just like radioactive waste once the Tanuki is no longer around.Modern Alchemy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 01, 2016, from http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2002/crabb/modern.html