Tampopo.

Tampopo means dandelion in Japanese. Tampopo is an interactive video projected installation where viewers are able to interact with the screen by blowing dandelions. It also creates echoed blowing sound in the space, creating mystical experience of blowing giant dandelions.

Blowing dandelion is a simple action that occupy a sphere of folklore in many cultures. This is a metaphor for ‘making a wish’ in many countries, as well as universally, it triggers memories and emotions of our childhood.

In multi screen setup like one show in the video, viewers can interact with other viewers by blowing each other’s dandelions, as each microphone input affects not only one but other dandelions through the use of multi-user networking system. (eg. If connected by the LAN or internet, a number of people can blow each other from remote locations)

[Quicktime]

I also would like to thank Takeshi Shimada from SNAP Japan, a colloborator on this project. Without his special talent, this project couldn't be realized.

"Earlier this year, my friend from Tokyo and I were talking about lives in Tokyo concrete jungle - how you get up in the morning, you go to the nearest subway station, ride the train under the concrete surface for an hour, then you walk through number of concrete paths, and then enter into your office building without seeing a sky once. Same story goes when you leave work after dark. And it’s the same route back again." TAMPOPO is Japanese for dandelion, and in Japan, as is in other parts of the world, dandelions occupy a sphere of folklore. A simple action of blowing creates a space amongst the bustle of human doings, it creates a direct relationship with nature, and it acts as a trigger of memories and nostalgic journeys. Perhaps it triggers memories of wishes made and long since forgotten.

The subject in TAMPOPO is a giant looming dandelion, an interactive digital work that lets you blow on the head of the dandelion and watch its spores gently drift away. Yamada is interested in creativity in computer programming, and how creative code has opened up new possibilities for new worlds. He creates environments using computer-programming techniques, and generates a simulation of the natural environment in a digital realm. Yamada sees programming as a structure that is not the antithesis of nature, but also as a responsive environment in itself. Both the programming environment and the natural environment are full of conditions and variables, of predictable and non predictable patterns.

Lauren Winstone is a curator and artist who lives and works in Auckland/Hamilton, New Zealand

I don’t consider myself as an artist from New Zealand nor Japan. I was born in Japan, moved to New Zealand when I was sixteen on my own. I am certainly influenced by eastern thoughts but my output may not necessary resemble this. I have travelled extensively and lived in different cultural centres such as Tokyo or New York. I tend to focus on common experiences beyond different cultures.

Solo shows
2007
I Kiss NZ, Cannes France
http://www.justaddnz.com/i_kiss_nz.html

2006
Kentaro Yamada at Window, Auckland NZ
http://window.auckland.ac.nz/archive/2006/06/onsite.php

2005 
Tampopo - Ramp Gallery, Hamilton, NZ
Tampopo - Room 103, Auckland, NZ


Group shows
2007

"TXT Me l8r" - Aug 24-26 - Houston Center of Photography, USA
"I Kiss NZ" 13July - 20July - Cannes Lions, France 
"Silly" at Creative New Zealand Office, Auckland, NZ - 1 May - 31 May
"Asian at Wheel" at Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland NZ 19 Jan - 11Feb

2006
Kentaro Yamada at Window 8 June - 8 July (http://window.auckland.ac.nz), Auckland
Eeni meenie miney mo at George Fraser Galler - Just a Player 11 May - 3 June 
Fim Archive View Finder - Colour Bar 10 May - 22 May

2005
RAMP Gallery 7th-28th Oct - TAMPOPO (solo) (http://ramp.mediarts.net.nz)
Stanbeth House Gallery - Space is Shoot
Crease Show - Nothing doing
RM103 - TAMPOPO


Recognitions
2005 Elam school of Fine Arts Sernior Scholorship
2005 TUANZ (e)-vision Awards Experimental/Exploration category Winner
2004 TUANZ (e)-vision Awards Entertainment category Winner.

Education
1997 - 2000
Bachelor of Science Computer Science
University of Auckland
Auckland New Zealand

2004 - 2006
Bachelor of Fine Arts Fine Arts
Elam School of Fine Arts - University of Auckland
Auckland New Zealand