TOKYO ART FARM" is a festival to feel and nurture "the future of food and agriculture in Tokyo" through art with all five senses. One of the main attractions of the festival is a 22-meter long table made of thinned wood from water source forests in the Tokyo metropolitan area. A workshop will be held with architect Ryo Yamamoto (Spicy Architects), who designed this long table that will host various art experiences, workshops, and talks during the festival, and members of the Nishida Laboratory of the Tokyo University of Science, where everyone can create together!

To begin with, why utilize thinned wood to make long tables?
In Japan, where forests cover 70% of the land, the forests of water sources, which are also essential for food and agriculture, are facing a major challenge of proper thinning and utilization of thinned wood along with the decline of the forestry industry. Therefore, we would like to create an opportunity to create a new cycle between food, agriculture, and the forests of water sources in the city in the future by creating a long table with architects using thinned wood and offering a variety of experiences.

Forest thinnings cut from the mountains. The challenge is to create new value for thinned timber, as proper thinning allows light to pass through, promotes healthy growth of trees, and prevents landslides.

Architect Osamu Nishida and artist Ayako Suwa (Food Creation)

Combining various heights, this table is easy to use for everyone from children to the elderly

Together with Ryo Yamamoto (Spicy Architects), who is in charge of the design, and students from the Nishida Laboratory of the Tokyo University of Science, we came up with the idea of a long table that can be combined with tables of various heights and enjoyed by both adults and children. We want to create a new landscape around the long table, which can be used in a variety of ways.

Design proposal under design by Ryo Yamamoto (Spicy Architects) + Nishida Laboratory, Tokyo University of Science

Hidenori Kondo (UNIVERSITY of CREATIVITY) and Ryo Yamamoto (Spicy Architects) visiting the sawmill, members of the Nishida Laboratory at Tokyo University of Science, and Ayako Suwa (Food Creation), who will hold "edible art

「LONG TABLE」Production Workshop

Date: October 1 (Sun) 13:00-17:00 (tentative)

Place: Tokyo Station Grand Roof 2F

On the day of the event, we will be working with architect Ryo Yamamoto (Spicy Architects) and members of the Tokyo University of Science Nishida Laboratory to assemble tables one by one in pairs from lumber that has been processed at a sawmill and delivered to us. Tools and other materials will be provided, so there is no need to have any previous carpentry experience.

If you would like to try your hand at making a table, learn how to make one, or are interested in DIY, please feel free to join us!

The long tails will be sold to those who wish to purchase them after the exhibition (price to be determined), but participants in this workshop will be given priority.

Please wear clothes that are easy to work in and that you do not mind getting a little dirty with wood chips.

*A single long table will take about 1.5-2 hours to make, and will be waxed at the end.

*A separate workshop using beeswax and Beeslow to weave a new ecosystem in the city from the perspective of bees is being planned after the long table is made. Details will be announced later.

How to apply

Please fill out the form by clicking the application button below.

Concurrent event! Beeslow Paint Workshop: "Gathering Tokyo Today like a Honeybee"

A painting workshop by "Beeslow," an eco-zoological studio involved in urban beekeeping, and artists Halley Konishi and Maho Arakawa. Participants paint with beeswax paint on the top panel of the LONG TABLE, which is made of thinned wood from water source forests in the Tokyo metropolitan area. This is an attempt to seal in the resources that lie dormant in Tokyo with beeswax. The painted table will be exhibited during the Biennale and used for other events.

October 1, 2023 (Sun) 13:00-16:30
Tokyo Station GRANROOD 2F (1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
General 5,000 yen (up to 1 accompanying child up to elementary school age), Students 3,000 yen (junior high school, high school, university, and vocational school students)

＊Please wear clothes that are easy to work in and that you do not mind getting a little dirty with wood chips, etc.
＊It will take about 1.5-2 hours to make one long table, and we will work in pairs to make the table and then paint it with beeswax.