Amaterasu
Object
± 88 parts of Japanese futon & one zaisu
shaped by the Japanese wrapping culture of furoshiki
2567 x 2000 x 1645 mm
A M A T E R A S U
Maybe one could say Amaterasu is the most important Shinto deity from the Japanese myth cycle. She is the goddess of the sun and of the universe bringing life and light to earth. According to the Japanese mythology, all Emperors of Japanese history, the present emporer included, are considered to be direct descendants of her.
In my research I discovered this amazing Amaterasu story in which ‘the most female body part’ becomes the hero and saviour of the world.
Being wroth and indignant because of her brother Susa No O ’s (also known as ‘the impetuous’) violent actions, Amaterasu retreats herself into the cave Amano-Iwato, shrouding the earth in darkness. All eighthundred Shinto gods are deeply concerned about the world’s future being deprived from sunlight and life. They gather to find a way to make her change her mind but even the god of wisdom cannot find a solution. Then the deity of reverly, Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, performs a dance, lifting up her skirt, exposing ‘her most female body part’. This made the other gods laugh so loudly that it made heaven and earth shaking. Curious about what was the cause of this all Amaterasu was coaxed to come out of her cave, returning sunshine and fertility to earth.
As well as in many places in Japan Amaterasu’s cave can be found on Kyushu, the district of Kyousei no Sato, Kurogawa INN museum.
Amaterasu no Akachan
interactive installation, 2017
Kurogawa Asakura, Japan