Code-a-Machine: Curator Duo Behind 18 Artworks Adorning Tokiwabashi Tower

Who is Code-a-Machine?

With an office set up in a kominka (traditional folk house) in Kyoto, Code-a-Machine is a consulting team comprised of Kanazawa Kodama, a curator of contemporary art, and her husband Masui Shinichiro, a designer and manager in architecture, design, and contemporary art.

Kanazawa has worked as a curator at the Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto and as Senior Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Towada Art Center, among other positions, and has also curated more than 50 exhibitions in Europe, the US, China, and Japan. Masui has worked as an assistant and coordinator of contemporary artists such as Yanobe Kenji and Enoki Chu, and as the project manager at the graphic design company UMA / design farm. He is also a space designer who has worked on numerous commercial spaces and exhibitions in Japan and China.

They established their company in 2018 after five years of marriage. The idea came from Masui, who had left a design firm in Shanghai and wanted to start something new.

"There are not as many units as you would think who know both art and space like we do, and because we are a couple who live together, we have a shared sensibility and can talk about our ideas as soon as they occur to us. I thought we could do something interesting together if we worked as a unit. The name of the unit is a combination of our names."

Kanazawa liked Masui's idea. "While I knew some couples who are a curator and an architect, or an artist and an architect, I had rarely heard of such couples establishing a company together. I felt that there were things that only we could do."

Aim of Tokiwabashi Tower Art Collection

Code-a-Machine's mission is to connect people by leveraging each other's strengths and introducing art into architecture and the environment. Kanazawa says the project to install as many as 18 artworks in a skyscraper with 5 basement levels and 38 floors above ground was an exciting challenge.

"We heard they wanted to develop the Tokiwabashi district, once the main entrance to Edo Castle (that once stood at the site of the Imperial Palace), into a new entryway to Tokyo and a cultural center with a global outlook and to make a building that symbolizes Japan's future. We found that idea interesting and rewarding, and really wanted to do it. We spent a month carefully working out a proposal and then presented it online from Shanghai."

Although the total budget was set in advance, Kanazawa was later told that the fact that they already had 18 artists agreeing to participate in the project at the time of the presentation was a major advantage. She explains the key concept of their proposal:

"We intentionally chose artists who are exploring new forms of expression while using traditional materials and techniques such as ceramics, bamboo, lacquer, and Japanese painting. In addition, the Tokiwabashi Tower's building design was inspired by Edo kiriko (traditional Tokyo-style cut glassware, so we included several works that incorporate geometric patterns to provide continuity with that design."

The 18 artists selected are mostly in their 40s or younger. Five of them are foreign artists. Masui explains, "Rather than relying on their name recognition, we wanted to look to the future with artists who had already created wonderful works but would shine brighter in the next 30 or 40 years. We chose the foreign artists because we wanted to give it a global perspective, while advocating themes that have an affinity with Japan."

This matched the concept of TOKYO TORCH as "the beacon of hope that brightens Japan," resulting with them winning the competition.

Each piece is an extraordinary work of art that stands out in each space, evoking a sense of history and culture while also heightening the imagination for unknown worlds in other dimensions. Seeing is believing. Some of the works are not in public spaces, but many others can be seen and appreciated by the visitor.

A City with Diverse Art Activities

Lastly, we asked the seasoned expats about the appeal of Tokyo from the perspectives of art and design. Kanazawa said, "Having lived in Shanghai for seven years, and in London and New York, I can say that Tokyo is a city with diverse art activities. In particular, it has an excellent level of government support and many unique initiatives. I often visit the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, and Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS). Another example is Tokyo Artpoint Project by Arts Council Tokyo that supports players in the arts field, connects people, and shares knowledge. Corporate sponsorship is also active, providing space and hosting awards. I think this diversity of support is one of Tokyo's attractions and strengths."

Masui added, "I am from the Kansai region (in western Japan) and have never lived in Tokyo, but the fact that it is the hub of all kinds of information is appealing. Even when it comes to work, you always get inspiration from it. That is why I always stopped by Tokyo when I was living in Shanghai and went to Japan on business. Of course, nowadays you can get all kinds of information through social media, but in the field of art and design, you need to see and experience things with your own eyes to get inspiration. The excitement that you can only experience in person is essential to our work."

Code-a-Machine

An art-and-design consulting firm established in 2018 in Shanghai by Kanazawa, a prolific and internationally experienced curator, and Masui, a designer and project manager in architecture, contemporary art, and spatial design. By combining the knowledge and skills developed over the past 20 years and through art installation, they connect people beyond borders and boundaries.