Tadashi Kawamata on Wood, Temporality, and Site-Specific Installations

Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata discusses his practice in an interview, emphasizing his use of wood as an international, responsive material that reacts to environment like human skin. He describes his installations as never finished, always continuing, shaped by site, climate, and community. Kawamata, 73, lives between Paris and Tokyo, first participated in documenta in Kassel in 1987 and again in 1992, noting the shift in scrap material availability after the Berlin Wall collapse. At Ruinart's year-long residency, he created three installations extending the art-site concept. He rejects permanence as fantasy, viewing all as temporary, influenced by Buddhist philosophy. His work evolved from painting when he removed canvas from stretchers, leaving only wood frames. He values the balance between solitary planning (bird's-eye view miniatures) and collaborative on-site construction. Scale is a negotiation with the site, whether public space, park, forest, or museum. His installations initially disturb, then become part of everyday life, and after removal leave lingering questions.