Before Konoike’s solo exhibition at the Aomori Museum of Art, I learned about her project, in which her works would be placed, stored, and exhibited in the homes of people in the Tohoku region. The first person who came to mind was Hiroko Masuko, an artist who had previously lived in the Tohoku region. I immediately introduced her to the project, and she quickly compiled a list of places and people who seemed likely to be interested.

On October 7, 2023, based on that list, we conducted a two-day research trip primarily in northern Iwate Prefecture under Masuko’s guidance. One of the key aspects of this project is “connections.” During this research, not only did Masuko assist us, but her husband also lent his support, allowing us to meet local people we never would have encountered otherwise. This greatly expanded our vision for the project. Conversations along the way shared meals, and various experiences provided numerous hints and inspirations.

As time went on, key figures continued to emerge, and installation locations were decided one after another. Witnessing past connections link together, sometimes in unexpected ways, was both exciting and intriguing. While feeling a sense of uncertainty, we steadily moved forward with preparations for the actual installations.