昔々

昔々 (2017)

昔々 (lit. ‘mukashi mukashi’) (2017) was an interactive performance project that was performed in Japan at Shiro Oni Studio. The work is part of the project Once upon a time that investigates the influence of interpersonal relationships on identity.

Every year, artists stay at Shiro Oni Studio and the surrounding town of Onishi to make art inspired by the location. Kleine wanted to express qualities unique to Onishi by exploring the ways that the relationships that developed between people in town shaped their worldview. As such, Kleine conducted one-on-one “interviews” with townspeople and fellow artists while dressed in costumes that changed for each participant. Some participants were invited by distributing flyers while others came by word of mouth. Each interview was a private conversation and was conducted in a traditional tatami room inside a townhouse owned by the studio. These sessions were commemorated with photographs that created a photographic series. Twenty-six sessions were conducted overall.

The project’s name refers to the Japanese phrase that begins folktales. It is often translated into English as ‘once upon a time’. Images courtesy of the artist.