Sweeping Trash to the Front of Prime Minister’s Office, 2012

ビデオスティル、2012
Video still, 2012

官邸前までゴミを掻き集める
2012, シングルチャンネルのビデオ (8分36秒)
日曜日の昼過ぎ、路上に溜まったゴミやチリを掃き集めながら新宿駅構内から首相官邸前まで行く。誰も気にも留めないような微かなホコリを掻き集めながら一歩ずつ進む姿は、どこか反原発抗議への参加要請の加熱ぶりを思わせるが、到着した官邸前に志を共にした人々は既に誰もいなかった。毎週のように金曜日の夜になると大勢の人が官邸前に詰めかけて時代を共有した日々は過ぎ去り、そこには警察官だけが忙しそうに列をなしていた。一時的に加熱した反原発抗議活動に対する皮肉とも取れるが、同時に自分たち市民の熱し易く冷め易い実情を垣間みることになる。

Sweeping Trash to the Front of Prime Minister’s Office
2012, Single channel video (8'36 min)
Early on a Sunday afternoon, Niwa walks from Shinjuku station to the front of the Prime Minister’s office while sweeping trash and dust on the street along his way. His step-by-step walk while gathering even a tiny amount of dust that no one else takes notice somehow reminds us of the heated urge to participate in anti-nuclear power protests, although no protesters remained when Niwa arrived at the Prime Minister’s office. The days when hundreds of people thronged in front of the Prime Minister’s office every Friday night and shared the times are gone, and now only policemen busy themselves as they queue up for the guard. It can be taken as an ironic gesture in relation to the anti-nuclear power protest activities that were at one time all the rage, while at the same time we are afforded a glimpse of the actual nature of Japanese citizens who are “easily warmed up but just as easily cooled down”.