Multimedia installation, 2017
Performance, drawings, installation and animation

Magic School is a series of projects that were developed during the Daisen Animation Residency 2017 that combines fortune telling, magic and animation. This installation includes cut-out illustrations of 63 individual fortunes that I told in the karasu tengu’s head during the three day reading event called ‘The Entrance to Magic.’ These illustrations became the starting point for three animated works including 63 Symbols of Daisen, From the Crow’s Mouth, and 40.

1.     Entrance to Magic, fortune telling set and 63 illustration cut outs. Set design by Cindy Mochizuki, Carpentry by Makoto Kitamura.

2.     63 Symbols of Daisen, Hand painted ink animation. Animation by Cindy Mochizuki, Sound Design Antoine Bédard, Editing Cande Andrade. (4:45 minutes)

63 Symbols of Daisen is based on the key symbols that I saw in the fortune readings from coffee grinds of 63 people. I drew 485 sumi ink drawings that morph one object into another. Antoine Bédard created a sound bank of 63 sounds based on the surrounding environment at our residence Tema Hima.

3.     40, An experimental ink and sound animation. Animation by Cindy Mochizuki, Sound Design by Antoine Bédard. (3:31 minutes)

40 is based on the Book of Changes an ancient Chinese divination text. This animation uses my ink test papers and mistakes as a starting point to paint 40 random paintings that were looped in an animation to music by Antoine Bédard. Iching #40 Deliverance brings a feeling of clarity and fresh opportunity after a big thunderstorm.

4.     From the Crow’s Mouth, Digital and hand painted animation and illustrations. Animation Cindy Mochizuki, Sound Design Antoine Bédard, Editing Cande Andrade. (11:20 minutes)

When I was a child a karasu tengu appeared by my bedside, crept inside my mouth and sang.  A karasu tengu is a part human part crow mythological creature that protects the area of Daisen. Thirty years later I find myself gathering messages, stories and futures from inside a karasu tengu’s mouth in Daisen. This animation uses illustrations, animation and sound to take viewers on a mysterious journey through future time and in the unfolding of how one reads and sees fortunes.  

Produced by Daisen Animation Residency. With acknowledgements to producer Shiho Oshita Beday, Kana Yabuta (Residence stay at Tema Hima), Xue Feng (for third eye cape design and hat) and Makoto Kitamura (carpentry) and the 63 participants. This project was financially supported with the assistance of the Canada Council Arts Abroad Program.