ある美術館に行った際、手にペンとメモ帳を持って展示会場に入ろうとすると、「ペンの持ち込みはできません」と言われました。その代わりに、鉛筆を貸してくれるとのことでした。書くこと自体が禁止されているわけではないと気づき、私は困惑しました。なぜペンは禁止され、鉛筆は許されるのかを尋ねると、「ペンは作品を傷つける可能性があるから」とのことでした。どのようにしたらペンが作品を傷つけるのでしょうか?
この出来事をきっかけに制作したのが、Pen/dantです。 筆記具と装飾品が、それぞれの機能を保ちながら一つのものとして存在する時、こ れはどのように認識され、定義されるのでしょうか?
後日、私はこのPen/dant を身につけて美術館を再訪しました。すると、すんなりと 展示会場に入ることができたのです。 それはお気に入りのペンと一緒に展示会場に入れなかった私の、小さなリベンジが 成功した瞬間でした。
When I visited a museum, I was holding a pen and a notebook and was about to enter the exhibition space when I was told, “Pens are not allowed in the exhibition space.” Instead, they offered me a pencil that the museum provided. Once I realised that writing itself wasn't prohibited, I was confused. When I asked why pens were banned but pencils were allowed, I was told, "Because pens could damage the artworks." In what way could pens damage works of art?
This incident led to the creation of the Pen/dant. When a writing instrument and a piece of jewellery both retain their individual functions and yet exist as one, how are they recognised and defined?
Later, I visited the museum again, wearing the Pen/dant. This time, I was allowed to enter the exhibition space without any issues. It was a small but satisfying victory – the moment I was able to enter the exhibition with my favourite pen, something I hadn’t been allowed to do before.
Pen/dant, 2017. Pen, brass, rope. Photo by Ayako Nishibori
Mika Yamakoshi
Jewellery artist & hairdresser
WORKS:
The Exchange Example, 2024
Pieces, 2023
Object Lesson, 2022
Please Do Not Touch, 2017
A Consideration of the Rule, 2017
Stories of Absence, 2017
Pen/dant, 2017
Subjective Time Measurement, 2017
Take It With You –Slight Marcy–, 2015
EXHIBITIONS:
Pieces, SOOT, Tokyo, JP, 2023
Object Lesson, necoma, Tokyo, JP, 2022
Object Lesson, C7C gallery, Nagoya, JP, 2021
Artists Fair Kyoto, Kyoto, JP, 2021
Object Lesson, Kamome Books, Tokyo, JP, 2020
Re-importation, Tokyo, JP, 2017
RESIDENCY:
TRACTOR, D’CLINIC Studios, HU, 2018
PUBLICATION:
Press, 2019
EDUCATION:
Jewellery Department, Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, NL, 2017
Foundation Course, Central Saint Martins, London, UK, 2014
Nippon Beauty Academy, Tokyo, JP, 2006
BORN:
Tokyo, JP
CONTACT:
contact@mikyam.com
@_mikyam_