Re-Edo-Cation: Ideas for Ecological Change from the Edo Period in Japan | Symposium in Berlin + Tokyo | 08.01.2022

At the symposium “Re-Edo-Cation” on 8 January 2022, artists and experts from Germany and Japan will explore possible ways of thinking about and shaping ecological change. The point of reference for the debate is the historical Edo period in Japan, in which an extremely lively art and culture developed despite a lack of energy and resources. The symposium, which will take place simultaneously in Berlin and Tokyo in analogue form and online, with lectures, talks and artistic interventions, is a cooperation of the Akademie der Künste with the Floating University, the Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz, the Goethe-Institut Tokyo and Kyoto Experiment. It will be held in German, English and Japanese. Please note the special event times (see below).

Image above: Akademie der Künste Berlin Hanseatenweg, Photo: Timo Ohler

For 250 years, during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868, Japan farmed almost exclusively on the basis of solar energy, without any external supply of resources. With a relatively high population density, it was possible to expand forest areas and increase soil yields. Tatami mats, kimono, paper walls, even sushi bear witness to the need to conserve resources and save energy. While debates on ecological transformation are often conducted in categories of renunciation and asceticism, the symposium sees in the aesthetic and cultural innovations of the Edo period points of contact and a possible model for the future.

The symposium will take place simultaneously at the Akademie der Künste on Hanseatenweg and at the Goethe-Institut Tokyo as a face-to-face event. In Berlin, tea and soup will be served, there will be footbaths and live artistic acts. The transmission from the other venue will be acoustic. All contributions will be translated into Japanese, German and English. On the internet, you can listen to the event live as a radio programme in three languages via the website www.reedocate-me.com.

With amongst others:

Azby Brown, artist, designer, architect and author, Faculty of Architecture, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Head of Future Design Institute
Nicholas Bussmann, composer and musician
Michaela Christ, head of the research area Diachronic Transformation Research at the Norbert Elias Center for Transformation Design & Research at the European University Flensburg
Fritz Frenkler, industrial designer, f/p design GmbH, Berlin, Munich, Kyoto, Emeritus of Excellence Technical University of Munich, member of the Academy of Arts and Director of its Building Art Section
Ulrike Herrmann, journalist and author, business correspondent for the taz newspaper
Toshikatsu Ienari (dot architects), architect
Daigo Kosakai, curator for special exhibitions at the Edo-Tokyo Museum
Bastian Reiber, actor
Matthias Schmelzer, economic historian, networker and climate activist, Institute for Sociology at Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Yuko Tanaka, former president of Hosei University, Tokyo, professor emeritus, professor at the Edo-Tokyo Research Center, author
Andres Veiel, film and theatre director, author, member of the Academy of Arts
Nagara Wada, playwright and director

aumlabor (interior design Berlin), Sampo Inc. (interior design Tokyo)
eat&art taro (food culture and catering Tokyo)

With the kind support of the Japan Foundation

WHAT?

Re-Edo-Cation – Auditiv Symposium

WHEN?

Saturday, 8. January 2022

Akademie der Künste Berlin: 8:00 to 15:00 CET
Goethe-Institut Tokyo: 16:00 to 23:00 JST
On the Internet: according to the respective time zone
In German, English and Japanese

WHERE?

Akademie der Künste, Hanseatenweg 10, 10557 Berlin-Tiergarten, Deutschland

Goethe Institut Tokyo, 7 Chome-5-56 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052, Japan

COSTS?

Free admission

www.reedocate-me.com