The Problem of Time 太宰府天満宮境内アート解説 / The Problem of Time

Official explanation

As the centuries pass, materials used to create artwork begin to deteriorate. This holds true not only for “traditional” canvas-based works, but also for primitive hand-paintings created by our ancestors thousands of years ago. This deterioration is clear to the eye and offers a tangible demonstration of the passing of time. For this work, Simon Fujiwara outlined the handprints of local kindergarten children on an artificial rock. The rock was originally housed in the shrine’s open-structured emado pavilion, which contains several examples of paintings faded by age. Over time, the water-based paint used for the handprints will similarly be worn away through exposure to the elements. Ironically, the man-made rock will remain relatively unchanged, prompting thoughts about the nature of permanence.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.