Kenichiro Koyama, owner of YANBARU HOSTEL and a multifaceted creator and artist, is holding an exhibition titled “God of Death and Rebirth.” The venue, YANBARU HOSTEL, will feature several large canvases created by reviving worn-out clothing as art. Additionally, approximately 300kg of secondhand clothing collected from various locations, destined for disposal, will be reborn as part of the spatial design. This large-scale exhibition will transform the entire hostel into an art installation.
Mr. Koyama transformed a 46-year-old, defunct hotel into a new lodging, “YANBARU HOSTEL,” reborn as a hub for regional revitalization and community gathering. He expressed joy at seeing something that had fulfilled its original purpose given new life, creating community and generating new value as a place where people intersect. This exhibition focuses on one social issue related to “clothing, food, and shelter” that Koyama has observed through his work in apparel, spatial design, and interior design: discarded clothing. “It’s said that 22.8 billion pieces of clothing are discarded worldwide every year. I also learned the reality that a significant amount of clothing is produced but never sees the light of day in the market before being disposed of. While new items are constantly being created and released daily, discarded items can also reveal value when viewed from a different perspective. As someone involved in design, I constantly think about how I can contribute to society and want to challenge myself to do things only I can do.”
Through art, we hope to raise questions and spark thought, leading to this exhibition. Alongside the exhibition, we’re excited to announce a limited-time menu collaboration between Kunigami Port Shokudo—a renowned restaurant in Kunigami Village known for its freshly caught seafood—and Mr. Koyama. The menu item is called “Pasta That Shouldn’t Exist.” Based on a peperoncino pasta using fresh seafood landed at the local fishing port, it utilizes every part of the fish—including scales and tail fins, which are typically discarded—resulting in a richly flavored dish packed with fish broth essence.
“The tourism industry has been hit hard by the pandemic. It’s a tough situation, but I believe the power to create has always opened up the future. Especially in times of crisis, I want people to look firmly toward the future and see the essence of what they should be doing,” Koyama shared the sentiment behind the exhibition. He also mentioned that new projects aimed at solving various social issues, such as clothing waste and vacant housing problems, will be launched going forward. This exhibition marks the beginning of those efforts. Why not stop by and see for yourself?
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Kenichiro Koyama Exhibition “THE FASHION” “God of Death and Rebirth”
Location: YANBARU HOSTEL
Address: 1429 Hentona, Kunigami Village, Okinawa Prefecture
Dates: December 7–28, 2020 / 9:00 AM–6:00 PM / Free
Phone: 0980-41-2787
Website: https://yanbaru-hostel.jp/
