Room 704
2024
Immersive installation occupying the 7th floor of PARADISE AIR in Matsudo, Japan.
Venue cooperation Hamatomo E.F. Co.
Cooperation PARADISE AIR
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Room 704 is an immersive and site-specific installation that uses the context of the hotel as a haunted space. For this work, I researched the theatrical aspects of obake yashiki, or Japanese haunted house attractions. This art installation takes the form of an obake yashiki experience and occupies the 7th floor of the former love hotel of PARADISE AIR, the artist-in-residence program I participated in in Matsudo, Japan. Room 704 combines installation art with the methods typical to obake yashiki attractions such as audience participation, the use of narrative, and the importance of (costume) design and scenography. With Room 704, an environment of suspense is created using lighting, sound, scenography, and performance to facilitate an immersive experience.
A ghost story forms the base of this piece and is the foundation for the installations and sculptures I created for this work. The visitor is introduced to the story of Fantasy, the ghost that haunts the upper floor of Hotel Paradise in search for her six-legged baby. The visitor is given a flashlight and is tasked with the search for Fantasy’s baby by trying all the hotel rooms, some of which are open, to reunite her with her mother.
Credits:
Videographer: Koji Kato
Guide: Mei Miyauchi, Mihiro Kawaguchi
Cast:
Fantasy: Isao Kanemaki,
The Sleeper: Marieke Peeters
Taiko drums: Eriko Amo, Hitomi Ishii
Experienced by Néstor A. ALFONZO SANTAMARÍA
Many thanks to the entire team of PARADISE AIR for their help and support in making this project possible.
Generously supported by Mondriaan Fonds and Amarte Fonds.
