- May 21, 2010 6:56 PM
- architecture/design | art
荒川修作氏の訃報は、昨晩、ツイッター経由で知った。身体性の回復を訴えてきた美術家の死を、掌の中のiPodで知るというのは、なんとも皮肉な話だ。荒川さんとは、学生時代に会う機会があった。地方大学の冴えない学生だった僕にとって、初めて会うビッグネーム。その時の事は、今でも鮮烈に覚えている。今日はその思い出話を書こうと思う。
就職も決まり、ダラダラと残り少ない学生生活を消化していたある日、「養老天命反転オフィス」の実施設計・監理をしていた大学OBに「荒川修作が現場のチェックに来る、養老まで来れば会えるぞ」との連絡をもらった。当時、話題になっていた「反転地」の作家に、それもそのサイト上で会えるなんて、なんたる幸運！とばかり、ミニクーパーに級友数人と寿司ヅメになって向かったのだった。
荒川氏の最終チェックを待つ建物は異様な緊張感に包まれていた。「反転地」の方では、荒川氏の指示によって変更が相次ぎ、施工したゼネコンは大損失を出した、との話だった。今回も同じゼネコンで、万一「壊してやり直し！」なんて話になったら大騒ぎだ。現場監督達は緊張した面持ちで、芸術家の一挙手一投足を固唾を飲んで見つめていた。
一方、当の荒川氏は無邪気そのもの、タッチアップを待つ作品に興奮しながら、「写ルンです」で写真を撮りまくっている。まるでキャッキャッとはしゃぐ子供のようで、部外者である僕らにとっては、むしろ微笑ましいくらいだった。
現場を歩き回りつつ、「ここは、ここにこう掴まらなきゃならないくらい急にしなければならない」などとジェスチャーを交えながら指示をしていく。トイレの小窓に付けるカーテンのディテールなど、今思えば、作家自身がする指示としてはかなり細かいものだった気がする。
幸い、工事関係者が卒倒するほどの変更は出ず、皆で近くの食堂に食事に行く事になった。店に着くと、荒川氏はドッカと座敷の中央に座ったが、現場の人達は彼の正面には座りたがらず、奥の方へと入って行ってしまう。身の置き場に困ってマゴマゴしているうちに、僕は荒川さんと対面して座る事になってしまった。
緊張に固まる僕を前にして、荒川さんはキョロキョロと室内を見回している。「落ち着きの無い人だなぁ」と思った瞬間、彼はギロリと僕の目を見つめ、一言。
「アメリカ人はなぁ、貯金が少ないんだよ！お前より少ない！！」
突然の事にキョトンとする僕を前に、その日のトップニュースだった品川の国鉄操作場跡地の払い下げについて滔々と語り始めた。総合すると、日本には豊富な金融資産がストックされている、国民の預貯金も多い、それを流動化させる事で素晴らしい都市が造れるのに、こんな前時代的な開発にしかカネが出ないなんて...というような話だったと記憶する。語り口こそ「一般人が思い浮かべる芸術家」そのままだったが、内容は大変理性的で、十年以上たった今でも説得力のある話だった。何より、僕のようなウダツの上がらない学生に対しても、全力で持論を説く姿勢に感銘を受けた。その後も、幾度かビッグネームと会う機会があったが、そういう人達は「人を肩書きで判断しない」という点で共通しているように思う。
帰り際、持って来た本にサインを御願いした。僕の名前を尋ね、胸ポケットから万年筆を取り出し、
"to Tofuku, Good Luck!! Arakawa"
と書いてくれた。後にも先にも、僕の「東福」という名前を聞いて、「え？」と聞き返さなかった人は荒川さんしかいない。
また、去り際に「キミはいい目をしているな」とも言ってくれた。この線で引いたような細い目を「いい」と言ってくれた人も、荒川さんしかいない。
サイン本は、今でも東京事務所の本棚に入っている。東京に戻った際にはもう一度見返すつもりだ。
ご冥福を御祈りします
合掌
荒川修作＋マドリン・ギンズ
（現在、メッセージボードが用意されているようです）
- Newer: 天津のファシズム、1933
- Older: 再構築
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