Land of Unknowing Sceneries
075Ukai Station, Suzu, Japan
“Land of Unknowing Sceneries” reminds us of the intrinsic qualities of travel, the first pilgrimage was created to sense and learn from the happenings during one’s exploration. Embracing unknown and unexpectedness when experiencing the world, opening one's sensory organs to fully submerge into the picturesque scenes. Beginning from Ukai Station to disclose every patch of the forbidden fields, the discoveries inspire and equip one with the long vanished attitude to be curious, brave and daring. Good travellers on arrival to a foreign land bear the ethical roles to cherish others' culture, travelling are here to appreciate and understand the values rooted deep beneath the ground.
The once-existing Suzu Railway line accelerating across hundred kilometres of Oku-Noto’s land closed its service in 2005, Ukai Station and the train facilities no longer tour travellers to docent the beautiful landforms while slowly reverted back in time to a state of despair. At the edge of Noto Peninsula, “Land of Unknowing Sceneries” amend Ukai Station’s desolated future through spatial interventions, the station is reverted into a place that whispers silently to the tourists on the intrinsic values of travelling. Leading travellers to excavate and absorb thoroughly into stories hidden in each corner of Suzu, overcoming adversities and uncertainties to witness the divine unknown stemming from the ground of Suzu.
Context:
The "Land of Unknowing Sceneries" project was inspired by the desire to revive the essence of travel as a means of exploration, learning, and personal growth. The first pilgrimage was designed to immerse travelers in the unknown and unexpected, fostering curiosity and a deep appreciation for the world around them. The project specifically focuses on the abandoned Ukai Station and the Suzu Railway line, which once showcased the stunning landscapes of Oku-Noto's land but has since fallen into disrepair.
Concept:
Core concept of this project is to transform the dilapidated Ukai Station into a space that encourages travelers to rediscover the intrinsic values of travel. By reviving the station through spatial interventions, the project aims to create a place that silently communicates the importance of cherishing and understanding other cultures. The goal is to guide travelers to explore and absorb the hidden stories of Suzu, embracing the uncertainties and challenges that come with discovering the unknown.
Process:
The project began with an in-depth study of the history and cultural significance of Ukai Station and the Suzu Railway line. The research phase involved gathering information on the region's landscapes, traditions, and stories to inform the design interventions and strategies. Following this, a series of spatial interventions were proposed to breathe new life into the station and the surrounding area, with the aim of creating an engaging and immersive experience for travelers.
Production:
The production phase of the project focused on implementing the proposed spatial interventions at Ukai Station. This process involved restoring the station's structures, incorporating elements that evoke the spirit of exploration, and developing a narrative that connects travelers to the hidden stories of Suzu. By successfully transforming the station into a space that encourages curiosity, bravery, and appreciation of cultural values, the "Land of Unknowing Sceneries" project offers a unique and enriching travel experience that stands as a testament to the power of exploration and discovery.
Work 1: Secret Express
Slowly rises to the same level as Ukai Station’s platform, a bridge of mystery holds the two platforms of opposing direction united into a newborn forbidden pathway. The bridge is dressed in a cloak which draws nearby sceneries into the pigment under its skin, disguising itself into the environment. Silver obscured reflections and empty gaps of identical sized shards are ordered to shape the passage into a triangle tube, glimmering treasures along a good traveller’s journey can be glimpsed through the gaps of the cloak. When ones’ determination overcomes the risk of unknowing, map of hidden sceneries at the end would whisper to remind travellers of their choices. After the bridge’s true side is unveiled, triangles of reflections arrayed into a boulevard of welcomings and resonate the green tunnels escorting one towards the secrets within the woods. Fragments and specimens of scenery collected during expeditions around Ukai Station are assembled here, into a place where forgotten sediments are gradually gathered and repaired. The incomplete and broken kaleidoscopic bridge duplicates the scenery fragments indefinitely, merging with reflections of the contexts around Ukai Station to secretly express the congregation of a new wonder.
Work 2: The Long Awaited Boredom
Passengers dressed in peculiar garments representing their belonging habitats filled the emptiness of Ukai Station’s waiting area with curiosities and enigma. Flock of strange passengers arrive from places of unknowing especially to travellers who don’t observe their surroundings during their journey, glazing and staring at the seatings in the centre thirsting passersby to excavate their presence. While waiting to be discovered, the passengers naturally expose their true self through the behaviour to find the perfect sleeping gestures to erase the setting drowsiness while some even meltdown their body. The waiting area is drenched in an enigmatic jade green atmosphere, prophetting this durated wait detaches with the actual propulsion of time. Travellers seated or passing by this small corner inside Ukai Station, will you notice the passengers' strangeness in the emerald room and can you find values on mundane things seemingly without aura. Perhaps a tiny bit of observation and curiosities are the intrinsic and original reasons for travelling.
Experience:
“Land of Unknowing Sceneries” documents the unknown and hidden sceneries nearby the Old Ukai Station of Suzu. After the unfortunate catastrophic Noto Earthquake on New Year’s Day of 2024, the explorative findings and photographic documentation of the potentially destructed places became important information for archiving the time and places. The art project is conceived and served as methods of indexing the mundane scenes located deep inside the woods of Noto Peninsula.
Experience:
Anthony Ko’s “Land of Unknowing Sceneries” seeks to rediscover the forgotten meaning of travel. While appreciating the artworks, the exhibition hopes that viewers will also embark on completely different journeys, as if stepping into a tunnel leading to another world, and rediscover the sights encountered along the way. “Land of Unknowing Sceneries” consists of two sets of artworks – The Long-awaited Boredom and Secret Express – inspired by Anthony Ko’s exploration during his residency at the former Ukai Station. The Long-awaited Boredom combines the artist’s exploratory perspective with collaborative creations with local residents. Using ready-made objects, the artwork features various figurines mimicking the faces and state of passengers, transforming the waiting room into an extraordinary space. Secret Express is a small bridge connecting the two platforms in the former Ukai Station. It incorporates an infinite mirror reflection effect, piecing together hidden realms discovered by Anthony Ko during his journey and offering a glimpse into a new world like looking through a kaleidoscope.
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Client:
Oku-Noto Triennale Executive Committee (OTEC), Art Promotion Office (APO)
Typology:
Installation, Community
Status:
Completion
Location:
Old Ukai Station, Suzu, Ishikawa, Japan
Duration:
2023
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Project Team:
Anthony Ko
Construction:
Anthony Ko
Funamoto (Woodwork)
Toyofuku (Art Installer)
Photography:
Marvan Tam
Nik van Der Giesen
Anthony Ko
Videography:
Nik van Der Giesen
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