I – bóbr – Existence and Consciousness / no title

Takashi Ikezawa created a two-part work, one of which was located on the river bank, while the other at the Bishop’s Castle. They are connected by the material the artist used – wood – and by the
white and red colours. The starting point for the minimalist installation on the river was fauna typical of Podlasie: beavers and storks. Along the Bug River there are many dry and dead trees as the
roots and trunks of which are routinely gnawed by beavers. The other side of the river is wild and boiling with lush vegetation. You can see beaver lodges built from tree branches and soft vegetation there. The artist observed the habitats of these rodents persistently for a long time. The Bug River installation refers to beaver houses. Takashi says: In the region where beavers live, there are fewer pesticides and other harmful substances, and beaver dams contribute to the removal of pollution. He believes that the most important thing in his work is the presence of roots and wings, hence the reference to beavers and storks. The white and red colours, finely marking the branches of the trees along the river as well as wooden bars in the former moat surrounding the castle, refer to the colors of Polish and Japanese flags. In 2019, both countries celebrate the 100th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.

Marta Ryczkowska, text from the catalogue