The “Black kite” which had been exposed to harsh natural conditions for about four months, will be taking a temporary rest until its solo exhibition at the Aomori Museum of Art.

Although it was unusually warm for April, the removal work, which began in the early afternoon, proceeded more smoothly than expected and was completed before evening.

Having been subjected to intense sunlight, wind, rain, and snow, the leather had hardened and shrunk by 50 to 70 cm compared to before the exhibition. The now smaller “Black kite” seemed somehow endearing, and as I packed it up and touched it, I naturally felt a sense of attachment to it.

Seeing that the retaining wall had been scraped where “Black kite” had rubbed against it, leaving a mark on its shape, I truly felt the severity of the past few months. While I felt a sense of sadness, I also recalled the rural landscape I had seen from atop the cliff, at the same eye level as “Black kite” and found myself wondering, “Where will it go next?”—a thought that left me with a slight sense of guilt.

Designer Junko Ogawa, who has been working on the design of Konoike’s books for many years, and architect Hideharu Asanuma introduced us to Tomoyuki Endo, who generously provided a site for the exhibition of “Black Kite” at the Tambo Art installation.

Through Asanuma’s on-site research and discussions, it was decided that “Black Kite” would be installed in the wooded area behind Endo’s home. However, I was worried about the various challenges that might arise in setting up the exhibition.

Amid these concerns, we held a Zoom meeting to discuss the installation, and it turned out to be an incredibly memorable experience. Asanuma’s keen eye for structure and subtle terrain variations, his immediate translation of ideas into blueprints, the precise insights from craftsman Shu Morita, who has many years of experience as an installer, and Konoike’s timely sketches to confirm details—all of these elements made for a meeting filled with the unique strengths of each participant. It was such a valuable session that I wished we had recorded it. It truly reminded me of the fundamental joy of creation.

By sharing a clear vision, my worries eased, and I faced the installation day with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

On the day of the installation, thanks to the support of the rice field art team and those who joined in spontaneously, we successfully set up the piece despite occasional strong winds, without any major issues.

Later, while sharing a delicious meal at Endo’s home, I could feel new connections forming. It felt like a pivotal moment where this project truly began to gain momentum.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!