Sponsored by Kirin and curated by denim purveyors/iconoclasts Ksubi, Big In Japan debuted last year with a thrilling display of face twitching performance art, left-field pop music and in true Ksubi fashion, an animal cruelty controversy involving roosting birds and netting. Feathered mishaps aside, the event is an unmissable celebration of esoteric Japanese culture and for fans of totally fucking insane human expression, Big In Japan returns again this November with an impressive array of artists, musicians, filmmakers and designers from the Japanese avant-garde (there’s a guy who makes music from noodles?!). Also, for Japonophiles dwelling south of the border, Big In Japan will this year make its inaugural trip to Melbourne. Konichiwa bitches?
Big In Japan Sydney takes place Tuesday 16 November at The Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park while Big In Japan Melbourne takes place on Friday 19 November at Thousand Pound Bend. In the meantime you can keep up to date at the official Big In Japan blog edited by writer, cultural explorer and self-confessed Japanophile, Amelia Groom.
2010 Kirin ‘Big in Japan’ Sydney and Melbourne artist line up:
Respected sound artist Mamoru Okuno experiments with sounds we hear but never listen to. An audio and culinary performance taps into the music of noodles.
Colourful chaos is served up from Shabushabu and LakilakiwasMaho+ThaiDisco from Kyoto. Exuberant singing and tropical sounds makes for a high-energy performance.
Instrumental krautrock girl group Nisennenmondai will work their hypnotic magic on the crowd.
Sound artist Atsuhiro Ito brings his original fluorescent lighting noise instrument ‘optron’ for an explosive synesthetic experience.
Having worked with McQueen and Galliano, acclaimed designer/artist Yoshikazu Yamagata showcases his conceptual fashion from his label writtenafterwards.
Brother and sister duo Shimurabros. offer digital installation in the form of “X-ray Train” challenging 2 dimensional film and production techniques.
Lighter-than-air floating human sculptures will hover overhead from Yasushiro Suzuki.
Exploring differing mediums from light, shadows, stop motion and more, video art is presented by Leiko
Shiga, Yukihiro Taguchi, Sachiko Kodoma, Yusuke Shigeta, Yuichiro Tamura.
Hiroshi Hawegawa (of noise units ASTRO and C.C.C.C.) performs his psychedelic live set “like drifting between the meditative and awakened state, with electronics.”
Renowned reclusive voice music artist Dokaka gives a rare live performance.
Here’s what happened last year…
Title Image by Lisa Maree Williams via Getty
