Current Exhibition: Runway, L’Arte, Gaiemmae Tokyo

“Runway” is series of works derived from Japanese aviation in the 1960’s and 1970’s. This is when the Sanrizuka Struggle took place. The government forcibly acquired land needed for the construction of Narita Airport. Local residents, farmers, and politically motivated groups fought against this. Protesters disrupted building efforts and built large steel towers on the airport site. Clashes with police resulted in six deaths. Protesters even broke into the air traffic control tower and destroyed equipment, delaying the airport’s opening for several months. Photographs of these events show chaotic scenes. The images of opposing groups in line formation wearing armor, with long poles and red banners, resemble Paolo Ucello’s 15th century battle scene paintings. This violence is a stark contrast to the glamorous image of flying promoted by airlines during this period. The Japan Airlines Sky Museum features a display of the airline’s historical uniforms. The display reflects the corresponding fashions of the time, with the older garments being very impractical for their role. The mannequins wearing the uniforms are anatomically peculiar: impossibly thin with elongated limbs and oval-shaped heads. The inconsistencies in the presentation stand out: the models’ poses are all similar but not quite the same, some limbs are placed at awkward angles and some wear black pumps while most are barefoot. Despite the strangeness of the models, the uniforms are beautifully presented and powerfully evoke the nostalgia associated with 60’s and 70’s air travel. The paintings in “Runway” show the juxtaposition between this nostalgia and the shocking events that occurred then.