Cinematic Architecture Tokyo

Previous Cinématic Cafés and Their Themes

2024

10 February 13:30-15:00 Subject: Care

After introducing films, literature, architecture, artworks, etc., in a striking way which depicts various forms of ‘care’ and people who care and whom to be cared for with their standpoint and that have recently been the topic according to art and literature, everyone is invited to discuss their meaning in a relaxed atmosphere.

240210Vol.35ケアJPEN3 — Possible reference, from left to right “Columbus” Kogonada, “Jane Eyre” Charlotte Brontë, “Boyhood” Richard Linklater, “Nobody Knows” Hirokazu Kore-eda

2023

23 December 18:30-20:00 Subject: Boundary

A ‘boundary’ and ‘border’ separate or divide something from something else. However, when seen through artworks, it is not only that but also something that can be seen because it is on a boundary that transcends the boundary and conversely shows a connection. There is a visible border and an invisible one too. After introducing films, literature, architecture, artworks, etc. which feature Border(lines) impressively, we will discuss and reflect on the atmosphere created by the works.

Cinématic Café in Musashino: Boundary — Possible reference, from left to right “Border Line” Estudio314, “Kazoku (family) Game” Yoshimitsu Morita, “The Walled Off Hotel” Banksy, “1q84” Haruki Murakami

25 November 13:30-15:00 Subject: Roads

Roads or paths may be simply a passage to advance, but when it comes to the depiction in artworks, there are many different things: something that one connects to another, something to a destination, something that is not easy to follow, or something as an act to reach something. After introducing films, literature, architecture, artworks, etc. feature Roads impressively, we will discuss and reflect on the atmosphere created by the works.

Cinématic Café in Musasihino: Roads — Possible reference, from left to right “High Line” Diller Scofidio + Renfro, “Route 20” Kuzoku, “Untitled” Koji Nakazono, “The Road” Nicolas de Staël

7 October 13:30-15:00 Subject: Night

After introducing films, literature, architecture, artworks, etc. on what they take of Night, we will discuss and reflect on the atmosphere created by the works.

Possible references, from left to right “Call of the Night” Kotoyama, “After Dark” Haruki Murakami, “Dark Night Rises” Christopher Nolan, “Festival of Light in Amsterdam”

16 September 13:30-15:00 Subject: 1999

The year 1999, when the bubble economy was over and the Japanese economy was on a gradual downward trajectory, was four years after the Sarin gas attack on the underground in Tokyo by a cult, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the release of the TV animation Neon Genesis Evangelion and the Ghost in the Shell theatrical version, That year was also a year before the Fear Problem of 2000, when computers were said to malfunction, and it was supposed to be July of that year of Nostradamus’ Great Prophecy. It was also two years before the 911 NYC attacks in the USA.
After introducing films, literature, architecture, artworks, etc. came out around 1999 or depicting that period, we will discuss and reflect on the atmosphere created by the works and what kind of time period it was.

Possible references, from left to right “Energy Flow” Ryuichi Sakamoto, “Matrix” Lana and Lilly Wachowski, “After Life” Hirokazu Kore-eda “Anywise” Arata Isozaki and Akira Asada

26 August 13:30-15:00 Subject: Cooking

After introducing films, literature, architecture, artworks, etc., that depict ‘cooking’ in a fantastic way, we will casually discuss them. （The discussion may cover the meaning, taste and cooking recipes (as depicted in the works), but not too much into the form of a gourmet approach. (capacity of 10 people)

Possible references, from left to right ”The Godfather” (1972) Francis Ford Coppola, ”Chromatic Diet”(1998) Sophie Calle, “Babette’s Feast” (1987) Gabriel Axel, ”Kamome Diner”(2006)Yoko Mure/Yoko Ogigami

22 July 13:30-15:00 Subject: Summer, what you can see, hear and feel only because it’s summertime…

After introducing films, literature, music, architecture and works of art that depict ‘what you can see, hear and feel only because it’s summer, we will discuss its meaning in a relaxed atmosphere. No conclusions are required, just go with the flow. People who just want to listen are also welcome. Everyone is welcome, regardless of expertise. (capacity of 10 people)

Possible references, from left to right ” Summer 1” (2021) Julian Opie, ”Midsommer”(2019) Ari Aster, “Le Rayon vert” (1986) Éric Rohmer (1953) ”The Shape of Voice”(2014/16)Yoshitoki Oima/Naoko Yamada

24 June 18:30-20:00 Subject: Walking

After introducing films, literature, music, architecture and works of art that depict ‘walking’ strikingly, we will discuss its meaning in a relaxed atmosphere. No conclusions are required, just go with the flow. People who just want to listen are also welcome. Everyone is welcome, regardless of expertise. (capacity of 10 people)

Reference examples, from left to right：” Paths of the Soul” (2015) Zhang Yang, ”Wonderlust”(2000) Rebecca Solnit, “Cloudscapes” (2010) Trassolar & Tetsuo Kondo, “Niagara” (1953) Henry Hathaway” The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl”(2006/17) Morimi Tomihiko/Yuasa Masaaki

13 May 13:30-15:00 Subject: Barcelona and Catalunya

Catalonia and its capital Barcelona, where the works of Antoni Gaudí and Juan Miró are relevant and well-known. But there are numerous other people and works of art in this historic city that have nurtured an outstanding culture. In this session, we will introduce some of the films, literature, architecture and artworks that have been made in and represented Barcelona and Catalonia, and then discuss the fabulousness and spell of the place in an informal way with some guests from Barcelona. No conclusions are required, just go with the flow… those who just want to listen are welcome. (capacity of 15 people)

Reference examples, from left to right：”BIUTIFUL” (2010) Alejandro González Iñárritu, ”Nocturno Matinal”(1970) Antoni Tàpies, “Santa Caterina Market” (2005) Enric Miralles, “Nada” (1945) Carmen Laforet

29 April 13:30-15:00 Subject: on White including a metaphor

After introducing films, literature, music, architecture and works of art that depict ‘white’ strikingly as a colour (colourless) or as a metaphor (blank, clean, tabula rasa、etc.), we will discuss its meaning in a relaxed atmosphere. No conclusions are required, just go with the flow. People who just want to listen are also welcome. Everyone is welcome, regardless of expertise.

Reference examples, from left to right：” The White Book” (2017) Han Kang, ”Fill in the Blanks” (2012) Keiichiro Hirano, “Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana” (1938) Giovanni Guerrini and others, “Three Colours: White” (1994) Krzysztof Kieślowski

25 March 18:30-20:00 Subject: Square <as public space>

After an introduction to films, literature, music, architecture and artworks that depict the square as a public space strikingly, we will discuss the meaning of the word ‘square’ casually.

Reference examples, from left to right：” Study of Perspective – Tiananmen Square” (1995) Ai Weiwei,” Occupy Wall Street” (2011) Naomi Klein, David Graeber and others, “The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other” (1992) Peter Handke, “The Square” (1992) Ruben Östlund

25 February 18:30-20:00 Subject: RED

Reference examples, from left to right：” Folly in Parc de la Villette” (1982) Bernard Tschumi, “In the Mood for Love” (2000) Wong Kar-wai, “Uncertain Journey” (2016) Chiharu Shiota, “Blood on the Tracks” (2017-) Shūzō Oshimi

28 January 14:00-15:30 Subject: Common

Reference examples, from left to right：” Sonny Boy” (2021) Shingo Natsume, “Drive My Car” (2021) Ryusuke Hamaguchi, “A Paradise Built in Hell” (2009) Rebecca Solnit, “FOODS” (1971) Gordon Matta-Clark

2022

26 December 14:00-15:30 Subject: Brightness

Reference examples, from left to right：” Bright Future” (2003) Kiyoshi Kurosawa, “Hikari No Machi (City of Light)” (2004) Inio Asano, “Bright Lights, Big City” (1984) Jay McInerney, “Arab World Institute” (1987) Jean Nouvel 26 November 14:00-15:30 Subject: Cloud

26 November 14:00-15:30 Subject: Clouds

Reference examples, from left to right：” CODA” (2021) Sian Heder, “The Place Promised in Our Early Days” (2004) Makoto Shinkai, “Floating Clouds” (1955) Mikio Naruse, “Chaogtu with Sarula” (2019) Rui Wang

17 September 14:00-15:30 Subject: Bridges

Reference examples, from left to right：” Sway” (2006) Mica Nishikawa, “Bridge of Reversible Destiny” (1973-89）Shusaku Arakawa and Madeline Gins, “Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium” (2013) Zaha Hadit, “Hashi (Bridge)” (2010) Osamu Hashimoto

23 July 14:00-15:30 Subject: Sleeping

Reference examples, from left to right：”The Maybe” (1995) Tilda Swinton with Cornella Parker, “Machi No Uede (over the city)” (2021）Rikiya Imaizumi, “Awakenings” (1973) Oliver Sacks, “Sleeping Man” (1996) Kōhei Oguri

4 June 19:00-20:30 Subject: Rain

Reference examples, from left to right：” Rashomon” (1950) Akira Kurosawa, “Amewomatsu (Waiting for the Rain” (2020）Minami, “The Grandmaster” (2013) Wong Kar-wai, “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964) Jacques Demy

25 April 19:00-20:30 Subject: Ukraine

Reference examples, from left to right：” Complicated Premonition” (1933) Kazimir Malevich, “Atlantis” (2020）Valentyn Vasyanovych, “Diary from an Invasion” (2020), Andreĭ Kurkov, “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” (2007-2022) GSC Game World

14 March 19:00～20:30 Subject: Pandemic

Reference examples, from left to right：” Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (1984) Hayao Miyazaki, “Salk Institute” (1959）Louis Kahn, “The Plague” (2020) Albert Camus, “Death in Venice” (1971) Luchino Visconti

2020

21 December 19:00～20:30 Subject: Various Christmas (on film, art and architecture）

05 October 19:00～20:30 Subject: On Mirror (on film, art and architecture）

10 August 19:00～20:30 Subject: Blue (on film, art and architecture）

15 June 19:00～20:30 Subject: On Journey 2: Space-time Travel (on film, art and architecture）

10 February 19:00～20:30 Subject: On Journey 1: Road Trip Film (experiencing on film, art and architecture）

27 January 19:00～20:30 Subject: Through the Window 2 (with screen or frame on film, art and architecture)

2019

16 December Subject: On Circle (on film, art and architecture)

18 November Subject: Through the Window… (on film, art and architecture)

28 October Subject: Seeing the Moon (on film, art and architecture)

23 September Subject: The Representation of Torres Blancas de Madrid

(The guest, Spanish photographer Ms. Ana Amado will represent the masterpiece building also featured in the film ‘The Limits of Control’ with her images.)