From 9.11 to 3.11 ...

The post 9.11 initiative of mine has meanwhile grown beyond my own personal activities as an artist, to encompass one of the most significant cultural heritages of humankind, still preserved in Japan to this day, to be shared with the rest of the world towards understanding and peace--- a key objective of Media Art League.

Facing the aftermath of the Great Tohoku Earthquake of 3.11.2011, I now feel called to a second mission to send out a message: "From 9.11 to 3.11 ... "the Medium is the Message" from Media Art League.

Indeed, in the months after the fateful events of 9.11 (11 th Sept. 2001) I started to send my "Letters from New York" expressing my impressions and thoughts while seeking the formula for change.

These letters spawned many unexpected, spontaneous and promising encounters. As a consequence, I have been working to send artists' appeals for peace around the world, anchored within the traditions of ancient Japanese-Asian spiritual heritage dating back as far as 1500 years ago.

Now I am starting to see new hope for human bonds: ties of compassion, solidarity of caring and helping each other. We are rediscovering & revitalizing the innate virtues of the spirituality of Japan amidst the biggest tragedy to hit the nation since World War II.

Besides, Japan is facing the unprecedented challenge of achieving a quantum shift in its energy, environmental and industrial thinking, which could be a new "model" to overcome this paradigm shift's constraints in such a way as to show the world how future oriented the rebuilding of our communities and country actually is.

Now facing Japans' natural and nuclear catastrophes, we have seen record numbers of people from around the world sending us messages of encouragement and support, regardless of their own countries' plights and social problems. Many countries are sending almost "unconditional" support from the bottom of their hearts to our country; even transcending past differences and grudges.

I believe that a newly reconstructed & revived Japan needs to respond to this support from the international community with a new set of standards befitting this era of global civilization, while enhancing our traditional virtues. The answer lies in finding the connectivity of humans, human beings and society, nation to nation and human beings to the world and all creation.

The answer will hopefully bring us one step nearer to a way towards lasting peace.

Through Media Art League's activities, I would like to "weave" a new tapestry of threads from human to human, and from Japan to the world, linking people who share the same virtues and values around the globe; transcending creed, religion and race.

We greatly appreciate any support activities for Media Art League (we are looking to establish an NPO in New York near future) to share new hope for understanding and peace!

Miro Ito

May 25, 2011

Okatsu District, Ishinomoaki, Miyagi

Aftermath of Japan's biggest earthquake

Yesterday we had a beautifully normal Spring day in Tokyo if it weren't interspersed with sporadic aftershocks. Yet life goes on in such a painful but bizarre contrast with what has been happening a mere 250-300 km. north-northeast from here for the past four days since the cataclysmic Great 2011 Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami which left thousands dead and tens of thousands homeless!

Prime Minister Kan announced that this ordeal is the hardest that Japan has had to face since WW II.

How fragile we are in the face of nature's massive upheavals; I can not help but feel a sense of powerlessness intermingled with a tremendous sense of grief that cannot be assuaged even by the vast outpouring of sympathy and support from around the globe.

I recall an essay of Walter Benjamin (a German-Jewish philosopher) written in 1940, about Paul Klee's "Angelus Novus", before he was seized in Spain and committed suicide:

"Where we perceive a chain of events, he (the angel) sees one single catastrophe that keeps piling ruin upon ruin and hurls it in front of his feet. The angel would like to stay, awaken the dead, and make whole what has been smashed. But a storm is blowing from Paradise; it has got caught in his wings with such violence that the angel can no longer close them. The storm irresistibly propels him into the future to which his back is turned, while the pile of debris before him grows skyward. This storm is what we call progress".

This storm that Benjamin calls "progress" might make sense out of a catastrophe only if we can relate to each other. The human bond, the power of love and the virtue in being helpful and beneficial to others can in fact be strengthened. Indeed, we can be interconnected in good faith and gain an awareness for what is most precious in life. In a sense, "the shock is the catalyst", as Benjamin asserted.

There are more than 450,000 people currently evacuated from the worst-affected areas in six "prefectures". Explosions in two of three crucial nuclear power plants in Fukushima have severely crippled the power grid for most of northeastern Japan (incl. Tokyo) while the degree of the havoc and damage continues to exceed the wildest previous estimates.

Japan is now surely facing the ultimate challenge of how to endure and prevail as a people, nation and culture with the help of our friends around the world...

Meditatively yours (with a prayer for us all).

Miro Ito

March 15, 2011

New Year Message

Wishing you an Auspicious New Year 2011!

For 2011, a key phrase that comes to my mind is “resonating with the future”.
Between the tangible and intangible, by resonating with the heart of generations past, it might tell you who you really are. I might call it returning to ones own roots. Indeed I have cultivated such precious experiences as books and media-art work during my research activities in my native Japan.

Indeed, I have been working to promote awareness of ancient Asian cultural heritage and traditions preserved in Nara to create a message for lasting peace. In late 2010, I held a new exhibition including two film shorts at the 2010 Canon Expo (Tokyo) and a commemorative event of the 1300th Anniversary of the founding of Nara as Imperial capital. The deeper I became involved in this research, the more I was overwhelmed by the power of this over 1300 years old heritage…as if it had emerged from a time capsule sent straight from ancient times catapulting through time and space, containing the essence of the hearts of deities and mortals; so fresh in their timelessness.

I feel as if I am observed by the past… and that the present moments are so precious, having accrued from myriad traditions over the decades and centuries. This gratitude becomes the courage to resonate with the future. In our transient ever-changing lives and increasingly unclear future, it becomes more exigent to have an insight as to what has not been changed; that which is sacred.

In 2011, Media Art League and I send you this message through art towards global understanding and peace !

Miro Ito

Mirror Pond, Todaiji Temple, Nara

Message on 7th anniversary of 9/11

Dear friends and associates,

Once again the worsening global political as well as meteorological situation is forcing us to face a new "new reality" - similar to seven years ago. Despite the exorbitantly high cost of so many lives ---in Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, Darfur, Iraq , etc., etc.--- I'd like to believe that the sum impact of these crises is helping to gradually alert us to the necessity of creating a better human, social and natural environment; so, that we might unite our efforts to achieve this.

My ongoing project that revolves around the 1300 year old tradition of "dedicatory prayers" in Japan is a modest attempt ---utilizing media and art--- to show the linkage of life and prayer. I hope I can pursue this linkage from the other parts of the world as well in the future.

Now, as Summer turns to Autumn, and some of us utter a prayer for the dear departed some images of the Japanese traditional "O-Bon (Festival of Lanterns)" that honours the deceased in mid August seem fitting. The attached photos depict the 10,000 lanterns illuminating the Kasuga Grand Shrine as well as the 10,000 votive candles of the Gangoji Temple (the first Buddhist temple in Japan ) that I recently took in Nara and which are both designated UNESCO World Heritage sites.

I pray that the "light" of a new reality will encourage us to understand the interconnectivity of all lives that transcends our many diversities....

Yours truly,

Miro Ito
2008/09/11

10,000 lanterns illuminating the Kasuga Grand Shrine, Nara

10,000 votive candles of the Gangoji Temple (the first Buddhist temple in Japan ), Nara

Power of Body - Message to / from Portugal

Re: Picture of Ko Murobushi

"I pray that these images, as an enhanced manifestation of the tremendous human energy might serve as a vehicle to help us understand each other; by discovering and amplifying what we have in common through a better comprehension of the diversity and differences". (Miro Ito)

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Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:22:26 +0900
To: "TERRITORIOARTES"
From: Miro Ito
Subject: Dear Miguel Fragata : Miro Ito

Dear Miguel Fragata,

Thank you for your kind response.

I am pleased you appreciate my work featuring Ko Murobushi. Indeed, my recent work has been focused on unique forms of body performance and expression within Japanese culture that convey something invisible or ethereal.

I would like to attach a comment/caption to the photo :

"I pray that these images, as an enhanced manifestation of the tremendous human energy might serve as a vehicle to help us understand each other; by discovering and amplifying what we have in common through a better comprehension of the diversity and differences".

Very truly yours,

Miro Ito
30.07.2008

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Dear Miro Ito,

Thank you very much for your e-mail. I am pleased to know that you wish to contribute to our project, and I must tell you your image is a of truly amazing visual strength. Our Exhibition wants to talk to people about the power of the body, showing through images some aspects of the human condition that can't explained through words. Your image of Ko Murobushi is a perfect example for that.

This Exhibition will be printed in panels (each one measuring 68x98cm), each one containing several images.......

..........................................................................................................................................

Miguel Fragata
Direccao-Geral das Artes
Programa Territorio Artes / Direccao de Servicos de Descentralizao

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Von: "TERRITORIOARTES"

Datum: 22. Juli 2008 20:23:34 GMT+02:00

Betreff: contact Miro Ito and Ko Murobushi

Dears Sirs,

The state culture department of Portugal for the performance and visual arts ― Direccao-Geral das Artes ― will promote an educational Exhibition (commissioned by the choreographer Madalena Victorino), which presents images concerning the body, movement and dance.

In order to include one of her works in this Exhibition (an image of Ko Murobushi), we need to contact the photographer Miro Ito.......

..........................................................................................................................................

Miguel Fragata
Direccao-Geral das Artes
Programa Territorio Artes / Direccao de Servicos de Descentralizao

Ko Murobushi's performance in Portugal, November, 2008 (Bele´m Cultural Centre - CCB)

Press Release

Exhibition: "Men at Dance - from Noh to Butoh   by Miro ITO:

Japanese Performing Arts, Past and Present"

Location : The NY Public Library for Performing Arts ( Plaza Lobby and Steinberg Room Gallery),

40 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC, NY 10023

Phone: (212) 870-1630

http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/

http://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/men-dance-noh-butoh

Dates: 15 th October 2007 through 8 th January 2008

Exhibition Hours: Tues, Wed & Fri: 11 to 6; Mon, Thurs: 12 to 8; Sat: 10 to 6

Exhibits: 55 Photographic Images by Miro ITO (Artist, Author)

Summary:

A unique presentation contrasting two of Japan's most outstanding performing arts: Noh and Butoh . This artistic and contemplative type of photographic work accentuates the quintessential quality of Noh and Butoh : strong powers of concentration and subtle yet profound aesthetics of performance, with each and every move reflecting something invisible transcending the body.   50 brand new themed photographic images of artist, Miro ITO will be shown for the first time in an exhibition format, concurrently serving as a tie-in exhibition to 2007 NY Butoh Festival: http://nybf.caveartspace.org/.

Participating Performers:

Butoh Performers: Ko MUROBUSHI (Butoh Dancer, Choreographer), Sal Vanilla (Butoh Troupe) - Giga HIZUME, KIK_07, et al

Noh Masters: Yukifusa TAKEDA, Tomoyuki TAKEDA, Fumiyuki TAKEDA (Kanze School), Hodaka KOMPARU (Komparu School)

Supported by:

JFK Grant (The Japan Foundation) and Consulate Gereral of Japan in NY

Speial Assistance:

Canon USA, Inc. and IINO MEDIAPRO CO., LTD., Tokyo

Objectives, Purpose and Significance:

" Men at Dance−from Noh to Butoh "   (Exhibition of photos by Miro ITO) is a visual attempt to showcase the dichotomy ---continuity and contrast--- which characterizes Japanese performing arts of the past and present. As the name implies Noh and Butoh (including body-themed contemporary media-art installations) constitute the essence of the exhibition. The uniqueness of this presentation is the "never-been-seen-before" perspective as these two outstanding performing arts interact . The objective of this exhibition lies in attempting to find a certain synergy of these two performing art forms whose origins lie 600 years apart.   Even their aesthetic as well as artistic forms of expression are quite different from another, although both Noh and Butoh share certain common features where the body can be a bridge between the visible and the invisible, the tangible and the intangible. Each of the 50 images attempts to portray one of Japan's most distinguished Noh or Butoh performers through unique studio photography as if their body itself were "theater".   One of the images featured in this exhibition (a photograph of Ko MUROBUSHI) was selected as the official poster image for the Venice Biennale (Dance Section) in 2006.

Educational Aspects:

The exhibition will provide a valuable opportunity for visitors to the New York's Library of the Performing Arts to encounter the impact and aesthetic of Japanese body performances such as Noh and Butoh .   Moreover, it will help to convey the common features of Japanese performing arts from the past and the present.   Also within the context of the NY Butoh Festival it will provide a deeper insight into the similarities and differences between Butoh's and Noh's aesthetics and connotations.   This presentation format could serve to make Japanese performance art more inspiring for American performing artists as well as the general US public.

( all images for the exhibition taken at iino hiroo studio as well as minami-aoyama studio, tokyo; http://www.iinomediapro.jp/english/)

Miro's Image Selected as Official Poster of the Venice Biennale - Dance Section

( ko murobushi, "quick silver"/mineral chronicle I., photographed by miro ito)

Dear Madams/Sirs,

I hope this spring will indeed be a beautiful refreshing time of renewal and rebirth around the world, especially the global hotspots whose inhabitants suffer from natural disasters, civil war and strife; or "merely" from cold and hunger..

I have been working on my projects focusing on the "body culture" in my native Japan for the last two years, as I believe that there are "certain answers" in the depths of our existence that can help us attain a sound environment. Something unknown (unseen) may offer a portal for the larger consciousness and awareness that can be explored through one's own intensive body experience, at the same time trying to transcend the physical prison that is the body: through dance, performance, prayer as well as meditation.

We never know when and where we may reach out and touch someone through our ideas,inspirations and creations, as I experienced once again last week.

Apparently out of the blue, a letter arrived from Italy, from the organizing office of the Venice Biennale (Dance Section). The letter was addressed to fellow creative artist AND dancer, Ko Murobushi as well as myself... The bottom line was that they were inquiring whether we might allow them to use one of my photo images (of Ko Murobushi) as the official "poster" image of this year's Venice Biennale -Dance ...

I am so excited and delighted that my work is being "rewarded" as I have been seeking answers on possible ways to help in my own modest way to help ensure a sound human environment . The image of Ko Murobushi taken by me is entitled "Mineral Chronicle I. (Quick Silver)".
Qucik silver is a kind of metaphor for the metamorphosis that occurs in nature, as it had been used by ancient alchemists as a key catalyst for allegedly turning base metals into gold. In the Orient, it had also been used as an alleged source of perpetual youth and longevity within Taoism.

The body might turn into something more than the body.... eternity and collective unity.....

For your reference, I am sending my image (selected for the Biennale) as an attachment.

Hope to hear from you again,

Sincerely yours,

Miro Ito , Artist
20th April 2006

*This year's Venice Biennlae -Dance will be held from 8th to 25th of Jnne (more information : http://www.labiennale.org/en/dance/

**A letter from Venice please find below:

Ko Murobushi - Biennale official image

From: Rino De Pace /La Biennale di Venezia - Date14.04.2006 - Time: 13:56

Dear Ko Murobushi, and Dear Miro Ito,

Thank you very much for the photos you sent. They are really amazing and particularly meaningful concerning the themes of our UnderSkin Festival. Especially our artistic director Ismael Ivo really loved that picture an suggested to use it as the principal image of the festival. Which could be at same time an interesting opportunity for Ko Murobushi and Miro Ito to be presented in the Venice Biennale Dance Festival.

We hope that this news will sound as compliments for you.

Our intention is to use the photo >>Mineral Chronicle I.(Quick Silver) for: - Brochures - Posters - Catalogue's cover - Eventual press advertisements

............................................................................................................................

With Best Regards

Rino De Pace and Andrea Bonadio

New Year message for 2006

Life is but a dewdrop ...

Perhaps the unusually heavy snowfalls we are seeing around the world are the Earth's frozen tears shed over all the strife and harm we are causing one another as well as to our environment...

And the resultant blizzards and avalanches --as well as the earthquakes and tsunamis that went before--
are Mother Nature's way of reminding us that we are only finite beings ...
All that we do or create is nothing more than dust in the wind, haze in the air or dewdrops on a leaf ...

Photography is, in a sense a way of capturing a moment, a sign or tribute of our so transient existence.
The essence of photography is daring to see --and seize-- the moment.
Otherwise, it would be nothing, it might as well never have happened .
The visions in photography are a silent dialogue of our spirit and the timeless universe.

Another fragile vision that we all profess to seek :
peace which in the face of discord appears to be swept away whenever it is in reach ;
nevertheless solidarity and harmony should be sought as a vision to unite us all:
irrespective of country, creed, colour or conviction !

My theme for creating photographic images this year is catching the beauty of life which is "but a dewdrop"
as "visions of prayer and repentance" in my native (Japanese )culture -- as a touring exhibition around the globe.

May the New Year bring us closer to solidarity and peace !

Miro Ito, Artist, January, 2006

photo: SILVERDEW, ko murobushi, butoh dancer by miro ito (c)2006

Miro Ito's New Exhibition
Masks, Performance and Life's Energy
Homage to Mannojo Nomura, a "Visitor" from the Past and the Future

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Exhibition: May 31- July 2, 2005
Place: Canon S Tower 2F Open Gallery
2-2-16 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo , Japan (Tel: 81-3-6719-9021