At the Folklore Museum Graz （Volkskundemuseum Graz）, Emiko Kasahara's one person show "Offering" has opened along with "Chikaku" at Kunsthaus Graz. 16 digital prints presently being published and produced by Edition Works, and three-dimensional work are on show.
"Offering" refers to money offering, donation, contribution or charity. At a famous Italian church Emiko Kasahara saw by chance a beautiful object. When she looked at it more closely she was surprised to see that it was an offering box, and so it was the start of this project. When entering churches Kasahara began to observe the offering boxes. This lead to her visiting churches worldwide, and taking photographs of the offering boxes.
It goes without saying that the act of using one's own funds for others is based on one's love for one's neighbour. However, that is not only on an individual level but takes place within the space of the church, which means that in compensation for that deed, one could have peace after death and a ticket to heaven, or alternatively from now, the well-being of the rest of one's life's, and so it could be an act of entreating for some kind of security. As humankind's universal sentiment it may well be a natural thing.
As a small device which accepts that individual deed the offering box , with the largest ever religion, with two thousand years history, is spread throughout the world. That form is sculpted from exquisite stone or made into a metal box somewhat like a jukebox. Alternatively, it is not a box but is an opening made in a wall, or a bag or basket. The material and design vary according to the different origin of the Catholic , Protestant, and Eastern Churches, and whether in Europe, South America, Asia, Oceania, or Africa, as well as their climate, culture, traditions and customs. And occasionally their forms have a sexual connotation.
With the keyword "Offering" Emiko Kasahara has made the process of going around the worldﾕs churches and collecting photographs, her project.
For the images of digital prints "Offering"please check here.
"Offering" is represented by six kinds of three-dimensional work, which have been made with various materials. Five pieces made with such materials as metal, wood, wicker basket, and leather were made in Japan for the exhibition. However, a box wrapped in embroidered, white cloth (The slit for putting in money on the top is open.) is being made on-site at Graz. The cross-stitch embroidery is unique to this region.
Concurrently, from the Folklore Museum's collection, which contains a great number of religious objects, three utensils are exhibited for the "Offering" exhibition (photo: right, 3rd down. Two are presently in a glass case).
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