SHIMABUKU
Kobe, Japan, 1969
Director of Fundación Botín Art Workshop in 2025

Flying People (Santander), 2024
HD Video (colour, sound), kites, vynil, text
Produced by Fundación Botín
Adquired in 2024

The practice of Shimabuku is firmly grounded in relationships, rather than creating specific objects. His affective an often humorous works are prompted by an anecdote, a conversation, a trip to a new place or the artists own curiosity, and are developed through experiments with humans, animals or other beings that take place in natural and public spaces. These experiments suggest an empathetic and candid way of being in the world, following a simple “What if I…?” dare.

When I fly a kite in my own shape, I feel a strange feeling of astral projection. And when I see myself flying in the sky, I feel a sense of elation, almost like courage.

I decided to let the people of Santander experience this special feeling. I asked each of the gathered people to make a kite of their own. (Shimabuku)