KYOTO - An artwork installed in Kyoto's historic Takase River has been broken in half during an autumn art festival, with organizers expressing anger after discovering that the sculpture had suffered further damage despite already being found broken two days earlier.
The damaged work, titled "Moon World Floating on the Water," is one of approximately 30 installations displayed in the river as part of the Kyoto Takase River Art Festival, which began on November 7. Designed to capture the beauty of the moon reflected on the water's surface, the circular sculpture was intended to convey a sense of traditional Japanese aesthetics.
However, by November 13, the once-flat, disc-shaped installation had been split down the middle and bent inward, exposing sections of its wooden framework. Fallen leaves had accumulated inside the damaged structure, while parts of its base appeared to have been forced upward.
Tetsuro Fujimori, chairman of the festival's organizing committee, said he first discovered the damage on November 11 but was shocked to find that the artwork had deteriorated further when he inspected it again on November 13.
"It's heartbreaking. It really is heartbreaking," Fujimori said. "When I looked at it again today, it had been damaged even more. It's a truly shameful situation."
Organizers suspect that someone entered the shallow river and climbed or stood on the sculpture, causing its structure to collapse. Although the person responsible has not been identified, Fujimori believes the damage may have resulted from reckless behavior involving alcohol.
"I've already consulted the police, and I suspect it was probably someone fooling around after drinking. It's something I simply cannot forgive," he said.
The incident occurred in one of Kyoto's busiest entertainment districts. The installation is located along the Takase River in the heart of the city, surrounded by major commercial streets and close to the restaurants and nightlife establishments of Pontocho.
The Takase River is one of Kyoto's historic waterways and is known as the setting for "Takasebune," a novel by celebrated Japanese author Mori Ogai. The river is also a popular cherry blossom viewing destination in spring, when rows of trees along its banks burst into bloom.
The festival, which features approximately 30 works installed directly in the water, was intended to bring art into the everyday urban landscape and encourage visitors to experience the river in a new way.
Visitors continued to gather along the river on November 13 to view the installations, but some expressed disappointment at the destruction.
"It's sad that someone would do this when an artist has gone to the trouble of creating something for everyone to enjoy," one visitor said. "As a Japanese person, I find it disappointing."
The artist responsible for the damaged sculpture acknowledged that the installation might have needed a stronger structure to withstand unexpected interference, while expressing disbelief that someone would actually climb onto an artwork.
"I don't have much experience exhibiting works outdoors, so I suppose I could have anticipated the possibility of someone climbing onto it," the artist said. "But I'm still surprised that someone would actually do such a thing. It's very disappointing."
Despite the extensive damage, organizers have decided to leave the sculpture in its current condition for the remainder of the exhibition rather than remove or immediately repair it.
The festival's organizing committee also plans to file a formal damage report with police as it seeks to identify those responsible.
Source: FNN
