Ryo Yamada's "Air Garden" installation is a passage, but not in the traditional sense of the word. It's not a passage that connects one point to another, since the walkway does not lead to a tangible destination, but rather a passage that connects an enclosed garden to the vastness of the open sky. The artist believes everyone shares a common desire for the sky, which represents freedom and equality. Read on after the break for more information, images and a video.
The installation was created for the 2014 Sapporo International Art Festival's Sprouting Garden exhibition. Yamada was inspired by the origin of the garden, which was traditionally an enclosed or protected space used to protect one's property from intruders. The passageway is meant to take visitors up and away from these enclosed spaces, connecting them to the fresh air above - a sensation that can be experienced by anyone, anywhere in the world.
The passageway terminates at a height of 4.2 meters and is only wide enough to fit one person. The structure was designed to be as minimal as possible via trial and error using a combination of recycled wood and plywood. If you want to experience the magic of this installation, it will be on display until September 28, 2014 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Sapporo. If that's not a possibility, check out the video below by Neil Hartmann for the next best thing.
