An image drawn by Art Front Gallery for the art proposal competition,referring to the image of Giorgio de Chirico.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Power of \u201cMaintenance\u201d that Fails to Lose its Appeal Even a Quarter of a Century Later<\/h4>\n\n\n\n Faret Tachikawa is based on three concepts: \u201cA Town Reflecting the World,\u201d \u201cFunction into Fiction (Art)!\u201d and \u201cA Town of Wonder and Discovery.\u201d 109 public artworks by 92 artists from 36 countries are presented within a town site of 5.9 hectares including 11 buildings such as offices, a hotel, department store, and movie theater. This project, which transforms city functions such as ventilation ports, exhaust towers, benches, signs, street lights, and bollards, and reflects the world at the turn of the 20th century through the expressions of various artists, had received high international acclaim as a leading example of art-based city planning. In recent years, it has influenced projects such as the Public Art for Lujiazui Harbor City in Shanghai and the Shanghai Urban Space Art Season. It seems that the constant visits received from home and abroad are largely due to the appealing concepts of the above-mentioned artworks, as well as the general “maintenance” that has been implemented from its launch to the present. Faret Tachikawa has been subject to conscientious development that carefully protects the artworks and makes best use of them. What have specifically supported this are the following activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u30fbThe establishment of the Faret Club in 1997, which has engaged in guided tours and related activities (the number of people who have served as guides has amounted to 30,000).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u30fbThe on-going cleaning of artworks and hosting of workshops by artists since 2002.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u30fbEvery 10 years since 2005, an art restoration and redevelopment project has been undertaken by an executive committee. In 2016, the art management committee was formed by Tachikawa City, the owners of the buildings and the works, and the Faret Club, to comprehensively consider the overall plans for town development through constant maintenance and art, as well as provide financial support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u30fbSince 2008, Tachikawa City has organized guided art tours for all children in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In particular, with regard to maintenance, it was epochal to have shifted to the idea that art is managed not only by the owner, but also by “everyone” who enjoys it. Since Faret Tachikawa is a place that is home to art \u201chere and now,\u201d it has given rise to activities such as guidance, cleaning, restoration, and learning, and from there had begun to harbor a “festive” element. One of these efforts was the \u201cArt Museum Day\u201d (held twice a year in the spring and fall), which began with the establishment of the Art Management Committee, and considers Faret Tachikawa as a living, breathing art museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFrom top left:Jean-Pierre Raynaud(open terrace),Jonathan Borofsky(guardian deity figure)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Whole Town as an Art Museum\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n In the backdrop of these activities is the city’s policy of regarding “the entire town as a museum.” Tachikawa City received 109 public art works by the world’s leading artists due to Faret Tachikawa. As a result, the city’s cultural promotion plan in 1996, instead of creating a so-called museum facility, had taken on a position to consider the entire town as a museum. Later in 2004, the ordinance of the “Tachikawa Development of a Cultural and Artistic Creative City” was enacted. It actively encouraged the installation of art in redevelopment districts, parks, public facilities and new buildings, and public art was produced and installed at every opportunity, such as the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics (2005), the new government building of Tachikawa City Hall (2010), the area around Tachikawa Station, and private apartments. Various efforts such as special exhibitions and international sports days using the city\u2019s halls and other facilities have also been accumulated. Many public artworks were installed in GREEN SPRINGS, which opened this year on the west side of Faret Tachikawa. Also established in this location is the “Tamashin Museum” operated by The Tama Shinkin Bank, and \u201cPLAY!\u201d that centers on a museum with the theme of “pictures and words” and a playground for parents and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faret Tachikawa as a Starting Point for \u201cCommunity Development through Art\u201d <\/h4>\n\n\n\n The Faret Tachikawa Art Project was a significant opportunity for Art Front Gallery to think about what art can do in the city. It became the starting point for our various activities that followed, such as transforming practical functions, signage, and advertisements into art, and eventually became the course for the Echigo-Tsumari Triennale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the Art Museum Day, a talk event was held by Mayor of Tachikawa City Shohei Shimizu, Chairman Koji Sato of the Art Management Committee, and Fram Kitagawa, with Issei Kitagawa, who is responsible for the branding of Fare Tachikawa, serving as moderator. While talking about “the future of local culture and art in the era of Covid-19,” what was indeed confirmed was the possibility of art. The pandemic had exposed the city’s weakness, forcing all museums to close. Meanwhile, the art of Faret Tachikawa remained to be open to the city as usual. It was the power of the community that had managed to protect, and maintain it in a fresh and lively state. It had also facilitated an opportunity to build a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, what had once been a town home to a military base, has transformed into a city of art. And that art is expanding across the entire city of Tachikawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Elementary School Program \u201cFaret Tachikawa Art Appreciation Class\u201d, which is guided by members of the \u201cFaret Club.\u201d It had been temporary suspended due to Covid-19, yet was resumed in October.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Learn more<\/strong> about Faret Tachikawa<\/strong>Faret Tachikawa Art<\/a>
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