The theme of this exhibition is that in modern life, we face the problem of not having problems. Today, especially in developed countries, many of us live in contentment—we are guaranteed freedom, equality and human rights. For artists who create, we are burdened with the reality that we rarely experience hardship; in other words, we have the problem of having no problems. This theme is saturated all around us and there seems to be no escape, but if we quiet our breath and contemplate, we see that loneliness appears in the form of an isolated individual. This loneliness, along with tribulation and sadness was once sublimated through the empathy that is rooted in large communities, but we are at risk of losing this sense of community, as individualism has become so valued in our modern world. While there has been much to gain from having to live as individuals, at the same time, loneliness has become mandatory. Have we lost the ability empathize with others and consider them an extension of ourselves in the community? There was only one origin, but like the big bang that expanded the universe, are we destined to scatter away like particles toward even further independence?
Ancient culture and sense of community are still preserved in Kyoto, and it may be one of the few cities that successfully employs the dynamics of a mobile. Mobile refers to a structure in which individual parts are connected in a balanced state, and similarly, Kyoto is made up of individuals who stay connected to form a larger community. This structure is still preserved to this day perhaps because Kyoto promotes the strength of the individual, and so the individuals gives back to the community in return. We hope this exhibition will inspire you to remember the existence of community and to think proactively about what you can do.