「鉢＆田島征三 絵本と木の実の美術館」は、「大地の芸術祭 越後妻有アートトリエンナーレ2009」で誕生した、空間絵本美術館です。新潟県十日町市の鉢集落の中央に残る旧真田小学校の木造校舎が、絵本と木の実の美術館の舞台です。当時通っていた子どもたち、笑い声やおしゃべりを食べるオバケ「トペラトト」など、さまざまな生きものが作品となって校舎の中を飛び回ります。校庭には、絵本から飛び出したヤギのしずか親子が暮らしています。休耕田を活用したビオトープには、多様な小さな生きものたちが暮らしています。村全体がまるごと絵本になったような豊かな里山に展開する、アーティスト・田島征三の壮大なアート空間をお楽しみください。

“Hachi & Seizo Tashima Museum of Picture Book Art” launched during Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale 2009 is a museum of a picture book which story spreads out in the entire space of the closed school building, what we named “the Walk-in-Palette”. The wooden school building of ex-Sanada Elementary School located in the centre of the Hachi village in Tokamachi-city, Niigata stands as the stage of the Museum of Picture Book Art. Various lives such as children who used to come to the school and Toperatoto who eats laughter and chattering have turned into artworks and jump about in the school building. In the schoolyard, Shizuka, the goat, born from the picture book and her baby goats and the diverse range of small creatures live in the biotope created in the abandoned rice field. Please enjoy the spectacular art space of Tashima Seizo whose picture book story spreads out in the entire village in rich satoyama.

Photo by Miyamoto Takenori＋ Seno Hiromi

小学校が廃校になった翌日、最後の在校生のユウキとユカ、ケンタは学校へ行ってみました。そこには、いろんな学校オバケが！　小学校が大好きだった子どもたちと、集落を愛する卒業生の記憶から生まれた物語が、校舎いっぱいに広がります。一度カラッポになった小学校の校舎が、まるごと絵本になって生き生きと蘇ります。

A picture book spreading out in a space named “Walk-in-Palette” – “The School Does Not Become Empty (Gakko ha Karappo ni Naranai)”

On the following day after the elementary school was closed, Yuuki, Yuka and Kenta, the last three students of the school returned there. What then they saw were resident ghosts! The story born from the memories of children who loved the school and the graduates treasuring the village fills up the school building. This school, which once became empty, has come back alive as the entire space has transformed into the picture book.

Photo by Nakamura Osamu

かつて里山に暮らしていた小さな生きものたち。便利な時代になるにつれ姿を消しつつあるサンショウウオやホタルが戻ってくる場所を、外に飛び出した空間絵本作品としてつくりました。手作りの池と小川には、いつも楽し気ないのちのケハイがしています。ヤギのしずかのおっぱいを飲んで大きくなる子ヤギも、元気に遊んでいます。

The Walk-in-Palette outdoor – “(Inochi no Kehai)”

Small creatures once inhabited in satoyama have been disappearing as convenience of life has become a predominant value. We created a place for newts and fireflies to return to, as “the Walk-in-Palette” unfolding outdoor. There is always a sign of merry life in the pond and stream we created and baby goats growing as they drink milk from the mother goat, Shizuka, play happily here. 

Photo by Nakamura Osamu

シンガー＆ボイスアーティストのシズリンこと、おおたか静流さん。絵本と木の実の美術館が開館する前から、自称宣伝部長として全身全霊で応援してくれています。トペラトトからインスピレーションした絵本『おもいでをたべるオバケ トペラトト』は、田島征三とのコラボレーションで誕生。美術館で大人気の一冊です。シズリンが作詞作曲した楽曲『トペラトトのおどり』は、梅津和時さん率いるこまっちゃクレズマとの共演でCD化されました。2020年に映像化した『鉢のおせなか音頭』は、YouTubeで観ることができます。集落との交流やシズリン企画の展覧会など、絵本と木の実の美術館に寄り添ってくれているアーティストです。

“Shizzlin” is a nickname given to Ohtaka Sizzle who calls herself a singe and voice artist.

She regards herself as a promotion manager of the Museum of Picture Book Art and has been devoted herself to support it even before its official launch. The much-loved picture book titled “Toperatoto: The Monster Eats Memories” is a collaborative work with Tashima Seizo which takes an inspiration from Toperatoto. Moreover, “Toperatoto no odori (A dance of Toperatoto) composed and song-written by Sizzlin has been released as CD with KOMATCHA KLEZMER, lead by Umezu Kazutoki. The movie footage of “Osenaka Ondo in Hachi” is available on YouTube. Shizzlin is the artist who has been close to the museum through engaging with the village and curating and organising exhibitions.