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Background and Influence On Work Born in Ishigawa , Japan Sawa moved to London as a teenager and attended the Slade School of Arts. He has expressed that while he does not feel confusion about his cultural identity, what he does feel is a sense of constantly “floating” and by this he indicated that when he is in London , his mind is floating elsewhere . This is the daydream-like quality that translated in to many of works such as “Sitting Down Going Places”, and “Dwelling”. Such an emotional temperature of displacement is also evident in many of his works such as “Migration”.
Background Cont. When quoted about his approach in an interview, Sawa stated that he never was the type of artist who had a specific idea or agenda to illustrate. Instead he is a more intuitive artist, who takes (ex. A childhood image of rocking horse) and “discovers” his work while in the act. As for his purpose, he states that he simply wants to express himself, and his experience . When asked if his films are merely about memory, and nostalgia, he replies that they are more about “fictional memory”.
“I just wanted some planes in my place”, Sawa had humbly stated in an interview. In this film, these planes fly suddenly into a stark largely empty urban apartment. Initially viewers can only a ruffled unmade med, a single light bulb hangs near an empty dining table. It is a lifeless place and there appears to be no consumption having taken place on this table. Juxtaposing such a scene with the moving place has an effect of emphasizing the effect of dynamic motion. Dwelling
The sound of a toy music box tinkering fills the room as, the viewer witnesses a rocking horse gliding through a flokaticarpet. The title symbolizes the paradoxical idea of daydreams during which one can both “sit down” and go places. The rocking horse, was an actual one from Sawa’s childhood , and Sawa states that it was the sight and though of this in his parent’s attic which gave him the inspiration for this film. Sitting Down Going Places
This film was created by Sawa in the all to0 familiar black and white monochrome frame. The viewers witnesses like the film “Dwelling” first an empty establishment, however, instead of planes a group of nearly nude people walk, some riding camels, which contribute to the dynamism of the film. Migration
Sawa stated that composed the film “Figment” to show a man who has “lost his memory”. He wakes to an environment where he can’t seem to come to terms with his senses, or . He doesn’t remember the “sourness of orange juice” for example. Figment
As usual Elsewhere utilizes monochrome B&W tones. The dynamism is created through neigher objects, or people but creatures which appear of be half each. Teacups with humanlike leges scamper across a sink Elsewhere
This film shows a person supposedly flipping through book to show a flp book animation , however the planes have been digitally animated and move in many directions Yet another theme of flight , and dynamism is reflected in this film Airliner
Conclusion • Sawa’s work, rooted simply in intuition, childhood memories of rice fields, a rocking horse, or his “grandmother’s word” manage to create a sense of infinity, the animations creating a dreamlike effect which take viewers out of their own worlds, and into the fictional daydreams of the artist.
Credits • http://www.japansociety.org/webcast/interview-with-hiraki-sawa-bye-bye-kitty • http://www.animateprojects.org/films/by_artist/s/h_sawa
