Two Passageways (2007)
Antique bathtub, porcelain, quarter-inch audio tape, salt, sound, projection
Spatial dimension variable

An antique bathtub and a hand-built ceramic torso rest upon a landscape of salt in the portico passageway. A gown, trimmed with lace and recycled quarter-inch audio tape, covers the body. Scrolling text of a poem is projected onto the water contained within the tub. Sound recordings of the bathing ritual emerge from beneath the tub, causing it to resonate. The processed sound of the ritual bathing is carefully spatialized from both ends of the 50-foot passageway, forming the aural architecture that defines the entire space.

Two Passageways, a site-specific installation presented at the Signal Flow Festival in February 2007 in the outside portico of the Mills College Music Building, was inspired by the architectural and acoustic characteristics of the site as well as the history of Mills College as the Young Ladies Seminary founded in 1852. The ritualistic and self-questioning gesture within the installation portrayed my personal response to the site as a Japanese artist, influenced by the interconnectedness of Eastern philosophy.

The historic building exemplified Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with two wings bridged by the portico passageway. Each portal bore symbolic European and Islamic art influences, and it felt eloquent to situate the installation in this portico. During the time this piece was conceived, the conflict between the US and the Middle East was a significant feature of the geopolitical landscape. While not specifically referenced in the appearance of the work, I responded to this volatile moment by creating a reflective installation.

In her garden of sand
My body tells me when to bathe

My skin soaks in water 
And deepens my thoughts

Rake the salt, like nuns do