The Forgotten Sacrifice
2024
Immersive installation
Konishitei, Ojika, Japan
Ofuroba, Ojika, Japan
Ojika Artist In Island 2024
Generously supported by:
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The Forgotten Sacrifice is an immersive installation using the form of an obake yashiki (Japanese haunted house attraction) in Konishitei, an akiya (abandoned house), on the island of Ojika, Japan. During my time at the Ojika Artist In Island residency program I explored Ojika’s ghost storytelling tradition, and became interested in the legend of Shiomi, the story of a mysterious stranger who sacrificed himself for the island. The legend and festival honoring Shiomi’s sacrifice have been largely forgotten. This legend became the inspiration for The Forgotten Sacrifice, a site-specific obake yashiki experience, inviting visitors to reimagine Ojika’s history through the lens of horror, revealing how fear can also create connection, memory, and reflection. The obake yashiki offered a way for people to reimagine and retrace their cultural history through an immersive experience. Inspired by the tying of omikuji (paper fortunes) at Japanese shrines, visitors tied strips of fabric to the installation during the obake yashiki as a gesture of remembrance. Following the obake yashiki, a daytime exhibition revealed the installations and costumes of ‘The Forgotten Sacrifice’ in the light of day. A video of the haunted house attraction in the POV of a horror video game was exhibited at Prospects, during Art Rotterdam 2025 made possible by Mondriaan Fonds.
Performers: Klara van Duijkeren, Victoria Simkovic, Chiaki Yamamoto, Marieke Peeters
Taiko drums: Chiaki Yamamoto
Camera: Vincent Schipper
Support: Studio The Future, Hoteiza Ni Maru Ichi Kyu, Ofuroba, Mariko Yamamoto, Chiaki Yamamoto
This project was made together with Studio The Future, Hoteiza Ni Maru Ichi Kyu, and local participants from the island of Ojika and I am grateful for the support and friendships that were made during this time. Thank you to Studio The Future and Hoteiza Ni Maru Ichi Kyu for all the help and great support.
