Events

Under the title “Where Do We Come From? Where Are We Going?”, Yokohama Round 7 will explore where we stand by examining ourselves through different time scales and perspectives. In doing so, we would like to discuss the way we live and the meaning of creation, expressions and research in seeking the future vision, by referring to ethics, emotions, and mythology, among others.
We will invite three experts for this round of dialogues. Kobayashi Kensei has been studying on life in a broad context through astrobiology, focusing on the origin, evolution, distribution and future of terrestrial and extraterrestrial lives, while questioning the earth-centrism and anthropocentrism. Hirano Keiichiro has been recently exploring novels which would “make readers have a yearning to be immersed in that world.” He continues to provide thought- provoking deliberation on dividualism and “how we should live in the future” through his writing. Hatakayama Naoya, who sees photographs as a process to work through the past and to call on the past from the present, has continued to take photographs of landscapes where human has intervened, as well as those of his hometown which was affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The three speakers will discuss the theme of Round 7 based on their creation, expressions, and research.
※This program in Japanese only.

【Speakers】
KOBAYASHI Kensei
(Astrobiologist / Professor, Graduate School and Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University)
HIRANO Keiichiro
(Novelist)
HATAKEYAMA Naoya
(Photographer)

【Moderator】
MIKI Akiko (Co-director [Artistic], Yokohama Triennale 2017)

【Speaker’s Profiles】
KOBAYASHI Kensei
(Astrobiologist /Professor, Graduate School and Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University)
Born in Okazaki, Aichi in 1954. Graduated from Shonan High School (Kanagawa Pref.) in 1973, and from Tokyo University (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science) in 1977. Finished the doctor’s course in University of Tokyo in 1982, and obtained D. Sci. Research associate, Laboratory of Chemical Evolution, University of Maryland, USA, from 1982 to 1986. Obtained a tenured position at Yokohama National University in 1987 (Lecturer in 1987-1991; Associate Professor in 1991-2003; Professor of Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering from 2003). Consecutively President of the Society for the Study of the Origin and Evolution of Life, Japan, Vice President of the Japanese Society of Biological Sciences in Space, Chairperson of Astrobiology Sub-commission, COSPAR, and Councilor of European Astrobiology Network Association, etc. The author of Astrobiology: Origins of Life told by universe” (Iwanami Shoten), Origins of Life: Chemical Evolution in the Universe and on the Earth (Kodansha), and History of Life viewed from Space” (Chikuma Shobo).

HIRANO Keiichiro
(Novelist)
Born in Gamagori, Aichi and grew up in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. Graduated from Kyoto University (Faculty of Law). While at university, he received the 120th Akutagawa Prize in 1999 with his first novel Nisshoku (The Eclipse) which was posted to the literary magazine Shincho. He has published novels including Soso (Farewell to the Departed), Shitatariochiru Tokeitachi no Hamon (Ripples the Dripping Clocks Make), Kekkai (Dam Break, Education, Science and Technology Ministers Art Encouragement Prize for New Writers), Dōn (Dawn, Prix Deux Magots Bunkamura), Katachi dake no Ai (Artificial Love), Kuhaku wo Mitashinasai (Fill the Void), Tomei na Meikyu (Transparent Labyrinth) and also essays and dialogue collections such as Watashi towa Nanika—'Kojin' kara 'Bunjin' e (What am I?—from individual to dividual), 'Seimeiryoku' no Kanata—Kawariyuku Sekai to Bunjinshugi (Trace of vitality—Changing world and dividualism) among others. His latest novel is Machine no Owari ni (At the end of the Matinee). He got the 'Chevalier of L'Ordre des Arts et des Letters' in 2014.
Twitter: @hiranok

HATAKEYAMA Naoya
(Photographer)
Born in Rikuzen-takata, Iwate Prefecture, in 1958. Completed graduate studies under Otsuji Kiyoji at Tsukuba University in 1984. Since then, he has been based in Tokyo, where he has developed a body of work concerned with the relation of nature, the city and photography. Received the Kimura Ihei Award of Photography in 1997, the Mainichi Art Award in 2001 and the Art Encouragement Prize by the Ministry of Education in 2012. Participated in the “fast and slow” exhibition at the Japan Pavilion for the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition in 2001. Participated in the “Architecture. Possible here? Home-for-All” exhibition in 2012 at the Japan Pavilion for the Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition (winner of the Golden Lion for Best National Participation). His publications include Lime Works (Seigensha, 1996, 2007), Underground (Media Factory, 2000), Hanasu Shashin / Talking Photography (Shogakukan, 2010), Terrils (Light Motiv, 2011), and Blast (Shogakukan, 2013). His works are found in world’s major public collections such as MoMA, TATE, National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo among others.