令和2年度　卒業・修了展によせてUpon Our 2020 Graduation and Completion Works Exhibitions

English
学生の皆さん、卒業、修了おめでとうございます。
新型コロナウイルスがすっかり世界を一変させてしまいましたが、様々な制約はありつつもこのように卒業・修了作品展を開催出来ることに万感の思いです。社会活動の自粛が求められ、皆さんの作品制作も困難を極めたことと思いますが、そのような中でも情熱を注ぎ続けた皆さんに心より賛辞をおくりたいと思います。

コロナは現代社会のグローバルな人の移動や情報伝達の急速な発展がもたらした影を浮き彫りにしました。また、便利さと利潤追求を第一とし地球環境をないがしろにしてきた人類への神からの警鐘のようでもあり、自国第一主義など分断する世界のトレンドに、もう一度、本当にそれでいいのかと問いかけているようにも感じます。コロナ禍での不安、戸惑い、怒り、無力感。でも同時に自分を見つめなおす良い機会ともなったのではないでしょうか。疑うこと、立ち止まって考えることは芸術を生み出す原点です。

本年度の卒業・修了制作展はオンラインでも作品を公開いたします。世の中への発信力が強化されることで皆さんの創作活動が大きく実を結ぶことを期待していますが、バーチャルがリアルに取って代わるということではありません。コロナ禍において私たちは対面で人と会ってつながる喜びと尊さを改めて感じました。オンラインの利点も生かしつつ、人と人との触れ合いが復活できるような、時代の変化に合わせた新しい芸術表現について常に再考し構築していく力が求められています。

人類の歴史を紐解けば、奈良時代の天然痘や、中世ヨーロッパのペストといったパンデミックの後には、必ず芸術が花開いています。コロナ終息の後に文化芸術が花開くまで、その根を絶やしてはいけません。本学ではクラウドファンディングなどを通じて若手芸術家を支援するための基金を創設し多くの方からの賛同とご支援を頂きました。我々は若き芸術家としてこの学び舎を巣立っていく皆さんをこれからも応援して参ります。皆さんが今後も自らを信じ、自分なりの生きる道を邁進して飛躍してくれることを心から願っています。

To all students celebrating the completion of your undergraduate and graduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts, I extend my most profound and joyous congratulations.

As we are all painfully aware, the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has dramatically transformed the world around us. A rich range of emotions flow through my heart and mind when I think of the tremendous efforts of everyone involved in successfully staging these exhibitions despite the numerous barriers and restrictions the pandemic has brought on. With the ongoing demands for various restrictions on social activity, I’m certain that our students encountered many difficulties in bringing their respective works to fruition.

On this occasion, I therefore wish to convey my utmost respect for and praise to you all for continuing to channel such abundant passion and expertise into your creations in the midst of an unprecedented challenge.

In a very real sense, COVID-19 has underscored the negative aspects of the rapid and global-scale movement of people, the rapid transmission of information and other developments in modern society. There is also a feeling that the virus is a stern warning from the gods to the human race, illuminating our neglect of the global environment in the stubborn pursuit of convenience and profit as the paramount priority. In that regard, I feel the time is ripe to reassess the rising forces of nationalism and other trends that have contributed to a divided world, and determine whether this is really the proper course of action for humankind.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to feelings of anxiety, bewilderment, anger, helplessness and other intense emotions. At the same time, the virus may present an opportunity to reassess ourselves. The origins of the quest for artistic ingenuity clearly lie in embracing doubts and pausing to ponder and question one’s path.

We chose to present the works of our students for this year’s exhibitions of graduation and completion works online as well. We have high expectations about how the powers of this communications medium will support their creative endeavors. It is apparent, however, that the virtual realm can never truly replace the dimension of real in-person interactions and observations.

The advent of COVID-19 has vividly reminded us of the joys and the value that face-to-face exchanges with others bring. Taking this basic truth to heart, we must do our best to effectively marshal the advantages of the online sphere, while at the same time laying the groundwork for the revival of direct human interaction. This demands the power and the vision to constantly rethink the new artistic expression keenly attuned to the changing times, and the ability to devise methods toward that end.

The history of the human race shows the resilience of culture and art. In Japan after the smallpox outbreak during the eighth century, and in medieval Europe after the bubonic plague, the forces of culture and art revived. In the same way, we must do everything in our power to preserve and nurture the roots of culture and art until they once again blossom after COVID-19 is conquered.

At Tokyo University of the Arts, crowdfunding and other means have been mobilized to establish a fund to support the activities of our young artists. I am pleased to report that this undertaking has earned substantial endorsements and assistance from a wide range of benefactors. Heartened by such progress, we are determined to continue backing the efforts of young artists as they emerge from the “nests” of their academic surroundings and flourish in the world at large.

To our cherished students, I request that you continue to believe in your boundless potential, press forward to blaze your own unique paths in life, and strive to excel in your chosen creative fields for many years to come.