In the dialog Fukawa is asking Hanaoka about simple things - "Did you have any trouble with Erika yesterday?" "When Erika plays with a keyboard, how does she play?" "How many words does Erika use each day?" - as well as about more personal issues, familiar only to those with an intimate understanding of the difficulties faced by autistic children's parents - "Have you hit Erika?" "When do you feel the most love towards Erika?" and "What is Erika to you?"
To the last question, Hanaoka answers, "She is my fate. Pleasure as well as agony. A person who motivates as well as discourages me."
Fragments of the dialog are printed in vertical and horizontal lines on the walls of the balcony that overlooks the main gallery space.The lines cross, like a crossword puzzle, where common letters intersect. Here, too, the phrases Fukawa has chosen range from practical to poignant: "Her most favorite part is opening the box of detergent." "Erika said 'ee' which is 'eat.'" "She did not recognize me, went up to another child's mother." In a light projection to the right of the printed phrases, as if only shyly present, is a full-scale silhouette of Erika herself.
Two telescopes aimed at the height of the video monitor in the torso breast are mounted at the balcony's edge, and a cassette player with headphones hangs from each telescope stand. It is from this vantage point, distant and awkward, thata viewer can listen to the complete dialog and watch the video tape - and then only when the central figure has rotated into the right position.
Adrift in the Sea of Tranquility - Index Text
Introduction - Text
About Autism - Text
Adrift 2 - Text
Adrift 3 - Text
Adrift 4 - Text
Adrift 5 - Text
Adrift 6 - Text
Autism Links - Text
Exhibit Credits - Text
Artist's Teaching Philosophy - Text
Resume and Exhibition History, Text
Comments, Reactions and Suggestions
Graphics Version of 'Adrift' exhibit
VSA arts Gallery
About VSA arts
VSA arts Home
Section Navigation:
Welcome to VSA arts Online Gallery
Online Art Collection
Artists Registry & Membership
Calls for Art
Artist Resources
Search the Online Collection
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities
Affiliate Galleries
Copyright Policy
Holiday Cards
Exhibitions:
Exhibit Index
"Art, Disability & Expression" Interactive Exhibit
"Adrift in the Sea of Tranquility" Autism Exhibit
1999-2000 VA/VSA arts Retrospective
'The Journey to Here'
Art & Soul Festival Exhibits
MERGE!
VA/VSA arts Gallery
About VSA arts
General Navigation:
VSA arts Home
About VSA arts
Gallery
25th Anniversary
Programs
Affiliates
Events
Partnerships
Press Center
Resources
About this site
Search
© 1997-2000, VSA arts http://www.vsarts.org/
All text and images on this site are covered under the VSA arts copyright policy.
Your privacy is important to us.