The theme of the Kobe Beinnale 2011 is “kira,” which
translates to sparkle or radiance; however, kira is not limited
to the tangible – it expands to the essence of shine. Like a
school of fish captures flashes of sunlight through the sea
water, this sculpture captures the kira of Kobe, welcoming
its patrons to the port and to the city. By filtering natural
light and reflecting captured image through the swirl of
reflective sticks, the installation draws out the sparkle of
one’s soul and invites a participatory experience with the
surrounding site, capturing the most brilliant essence there
is – the soul of the site and its people.
The installation is also interactive with the environment
of the Port of Kobe - capturing the essence of the sun
and the ocean, the people and the place. As the hues
of the day change from pink and blue at dawn to red and
orange at dusk, so does the hue of the structure. As the
moon comes out to play, it will dance across the school of
mirrored sticks just as it sparkles