Although the state of emergency has been lifted, the spread of the new corona virus is yet to come to an end. While some of the art festivals across Japan have been either postponed or cancelled, KITAGAWA Fram, General Director of ETAT hosted the briefing session of rebooting Kohebi-tai in preparation for ETAT2021

The top page of the web magazine, “Art from the Land” features different visual images every month according to a monthly theme. Illustrations for February to April 2020 were drawn by Yosuke Yamaguchi. When visited Echigo-Tsumari covered with snow, Yamaguchi felt as if the existence of “self” was freed and even its outline got burred. Being in nature reminded him of how much he had lost himself. Here, he articulates that experience with newly drawn illustrations.

The top page of the web magazine, “Art from the Land” features different visual images every month according to a monthly theme. Illustrations for February to April 2020 were drawn by Yosuke Yamaguchi. When visited Echigo-Tsumari covered with snow, Yamaguchi felt as if the existence of “self” was freed and even its outline got burred. Being in nature reminded him of how much he had lost himself. Here, he articulates that experience with newly drawn illustrations.

ETAT reminds people of the Echigo-Tsumari region in Niigata. While many people have come to know about it now, the principal idea of the festival has the potential to reach out beyond the region and expand while making connections with various places. How does Fram Kitagawa, General Director of the festival see such a future?

ETAT is open to many people. When many people gather in one place, it is natural for there to be as many backgrounds and opinions as there are people. What kind of space has ETAT tried to become? Kitagawa, who has been General Director of the festival since its beginning will answer to that question.