#Japan #Hachioji #Hachioji Art #TATTA #Buttress

The Hachioji Arts Festival: A Cultural Revival

Established in 2023, the Hachioji Arts Festival emerges as a vibrant celebration of art that intimately connects with the local history, nature, and culture of Hachioji city. This festival invites visitors to experience a blend of art installations in unique settings including old factory sites, traditional houses, and expansive parks.

This year's featured project, "Buttress", is a remarkable initiative led by the architectural unit TATTA, founded by architects Daiki Tominaga and Mie Fujima. TATTA is known for its commitment to creating structures using local resources, enhancing the synergy between building and environment. Located in a once-abandoned weaving factory in front of the former Kyusho Elementary School, the exhibition space showcases how past and present craftsmanship intertwine, breathing life into historical structures.

The festival runs from November 8 to December 7, with doors open from 10 AM to 5 PM, closed on Wednesdays. The factory restoration involves meticulous conservation efforts, ensuring that the site's heritage is respected and preserved. The design integrates a new wooden framework that supports the structure much like a buttress, creatively using camp rope weaving techniques. This thoughtful transformation signifies a return to the root of craftsmanship, allowing fibers to support the building once more, after decades of neglect.

The Hachioji Arts Festival goes beyond art installations. It offers a rich program that includes visual arts, music, theater, workshops, discussions, and performances. One of the standout features is the "Machi-iro Project", which aims to energize the city and engage the community in collaborative artistic ventures. Visitors are not merely spectators but rather “travelers” invited to encounter the landscapes and pace of Hachioji through this immersive experience.

As we look ahead to the festival's future in 2025, the vision remains to further intertwine narrative with craftsmanship. Visitors can anticipate a diverse range of events from workshops that breathe life into traditional craftsmanship to performances echoing the stories of the local community. The 2025 festival will also extend its reach by incorporating various venues across Nakano, Owada, Komiya, and Ishikawa, all inviting guests to engage in a multitude of experiences that resonate with both the past and future of Hachioji's artistic identity.

The Vision and Mission of TATTA

TATTA, which became a corporate entity in 2019, has continued to focus on constructing buildings that cater to local needs. Their unique approach sees them engaging directly with timber mills and leveling up the construction process for a more sustainable architectural practice. Since moving to Hachioji in the autumn of 2023, TATTA has been intensively involved in local activities that foster a cycle of resources and people within Nakano Kamichō. Their excellence in the field has been acknowledged through several prestigious accolades, including the ‘GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2021’ and ‘Wood Design Award 2017’.

As we embark on this journey through the Hachioji Arts Festival, we are drawn into the converging realms of history, tradition, and future creativity. As fibers intertwine, not only do individual stories emerge, but also shared memories that create the fabric of Hachioji's cultural landscape. Through these artistic expressions, festival attendees can expect to ignite their own stories—threading their imaginations as part of a larger, rich tapestry.

Join us at the Hachioji Arts Festival from November 8 to December 7 and experience the revival of artistry embedded in the heart of Hachioji’s past and future. Let’s weave the future together, one thread at a time.