Photo by KIGURE Shinya
KIKUCHI Hiroko
Artist
Born in Tokyo; Lives/works based in Tokyo Japan
菊池宏子
アーティスト
東京都生まれ・東京を拠点に活動
Bio I 略歴
KIKUCHI Hiroko
Hiroko is an interdisciplinary artist dedicated to exploring the boundary between art and everyday life, the role of the artist in society, and the diversification of what constitutes "art."
Her practice extends into roles as a consultant, educator, and program strategist, providing creative implementation and engagement-based strategic direction for/with arts and cultural institutions and leading educational and community-building programs. Her artistic discipline encompasses Fluxus-inspired performance art and interdisciplinary projects influenced by the 1960s avant-garde art movement.
After living and working in the U.S. for 20 years, she returned to Japan in 2011 to contribute to the recovery process following the Tohoku Earthquake by designing creative industry strategies to support grassroots reconstruction efforts. Since then, she has continued to develop projects based in Tokyo, Japan.
As a native Japanese speaker fully fluent in English, she operates effectively in international contexts and serves as a transnational expert with extensive experience in cross- and trans-cultural situations. Her network spans the sectors of art, community development, academia, and connections across Asia and the U.S.
Recognized with several prestigious awards including the Artadia Fund for Art and Dialogue First Prize (2007), the East Bay Community Foundation Award (2010), and nominations for the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston's ICA Prize (2006, 2008) and Art Matters (2008).
She holds an MFA degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Tufts University, in affiliation with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, with a special focus on Performance Art and Social Practice (2001) and a BFA degree in Sculpture from Boston University (1999).
菊池宏子
1960年代のアメリカにおける前衛芸術運動・思想 (フルクサス、社会彫刻) およびパフォーマンスアートの影響を強く受ける。現代社会における環境・状況のコンテクスト化をテーマに領域を限定せず活動している。
米国在住20年を経て、東日本大震災・福島第一原発事故がきっかけとなり2011年に帰国。アート・文化の視点を生かし「ひとを中心」に全てを捉え、コミュニティ・エンゲージメント*に焦点を当てたプロジェクト開発の実践に従事している。ワークショップや人材育成プログラムの企画・開発から、コミュニティデザイン、地域再生、教育事業など、国内外で多数関わっている。
アジア・アーツ・イニシアチブ、ボストン公共図書館、ロサンゼルス・カウンティ美術館、イエルパ・ブエナ芸術センターなど、地域に根ざした美術館や文化施設との連携プロジェクトを多数展開。その他、MITリストビジュアルアーツセンター、ボストン美術館、バークレー美術館、あいちトリエンナーレ2013、森美術館などで、プログラム開発や事業コンサルティングに従事。「見えないことを可視化する」をモットーにしたNPO法人インビジブルを共同設立(2015年).
Artadiaアワード大賞（2007年/NY）、East Bay Community Foundationアワード受賞（2010年）、ボストン現代美術館 ICA Prize（2006年、2008年）、Art Matters（2008年）にノミネートされるなど受賞歴がある。
著書に『へそ―社会を彫刻するすべての人へ』、『新コモンズ論―幸せなコミュニティをつくる八つの実践』、『キュレーションの現在—アートが「世界」を問い直す』、『センソリウム：身体経験、テクノロジーと現代アート』などがある。
米国ボストン大学芸術学部彫刻科卒業 (1999)、米国タフツ大学大学院博士前期課程修了(2001)。
Artist Statement I 思い
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My personal and professional proposition is to create a conceptual framework that builds engaging opportunities, extending art into society through social, political, and cultural engagement via an interdisciplinary approach. I believe that art and life are inseparable, and I continually explore the notion of "cultural resonance" — the connections and alienations within our surroundings.
My creative process begins with a simple question: "What if?" This question leads to projects and methodologies that require active participation from people. I aim to create works that speak intellectually and emotionally to the public, leaving room for open-ended interpretation. I hope to stimulate creativity, encouraging people to think beyond our intended meanings and view art-making as a form of thinking.
A significant concern of mine is the failure of imagination in the public and social spheres of the arts. Artists and cultural producers should be agents of change, eager to embrace new challenges and integrate into the fabric of society. In a time that prioritizes security over innovation, success is often tied to meeting expectations. This can lead to a "mechanical imagination" reliant on familiar cycles of institutional operation, which overlooks meaning and experience in favor of method and outcome.
I believe that art acts as a mirror reflecting our inner selves, embodying our innate imagination and creativity. Through its unique perspectives, art challenges us to reconsider our perceptions and offers fresh, meaningful ways to engage with everyday life and society.I see art as both a medium and a catalyst, bringing to light overlooked voices and memories while creating a dynamic space for people of all backgrounds to interact and share expressions of life.
In my artistic pursuits, I explore the boundary between art and the everyday, the role of the artist in society, and the diversification of what constitutes "art." Context is crucial for effective communication and understanding, providing necessary background, clarifying meanings, and influencing interpretations. This context fosters subtle yet resonant shifts in individuals and society at large.
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アートは人の内面を映し出す鏡であり、本来誰もが生まれながらに持つ想像力、創造性そのものである。アートが持つ独創的な視点、感覚は物事への再考を促し、日常にまた社会に新たな対峙の機会を提供していくことかできる。世に見落とされがちな声や「人の心に宿る記憶」を表出させる媒体として、そこに関わる「ひと」と「ひと」とが活き活きと交わる先に、生命表現を共育する場を生み出し、新たな展望、未知の道が切り拓いてゆくことはアートの使命である。「日常に宿るアート」を触媒に、人々の日常や環境を取り巻く文脈を探求する中で、参加型の制作など手段にとらわれない表現活動に取り組んでいる。（作成: 2023)
Affiliations I 関わり
