さかのぼると縄文時代の遺跡や土器が発見される当地域は、富士山系から流れる桂川が削り作り出された地形を持つ。この桂川がもたらす水産物を狩り、人々は生活をなしていた。切り立った渓谷を成す猿橋周辺は土地の形状上農耕、定住には向かず、弥生時代になると人の影はなくなる。しかし600年ごろには「猿橋」の原型ができていたと言われる。この猿橋は木材をそのまま崖に突き刺し作られている(切り立った崖により橋桁が下ろせないため)非常に珍しい構造を持ち、全国から構造を学ぶために多くの設計士が訪れたそうだ。近世になると、猿橋は武蔵国、甲斐国と相模国の交通拠点として、1902年に中央線が開通し鉄道のハブ機能が大月にできるまで栄えた。
以降大月は養蚕に向き、東京中心部へのアクセスが良いと言う理由などから絹の名産地となり、同時に富士登山の玄関口としてにぎわうようになる。そして中国へその機能が移転した後、かつて絹の工場であった当アトリエを使い始めたのが中西夏之だ。2000年代までは多摩地域の企業などに通勤する人々のベッドタウンの機能を持っていたが長期不況の都心回帰現象で通勤者および人口は減少しつつある…、さて2019年、我々はこの地を訪れた。
初めて訪れた大月アトリエで、ゾワゾワと身震いがしたのは、非再現的で一回性の強いハプニングの中に自分がいる、その感覚からだ。今また本の中で、話の中で、スタジオの中で、この地に生きていたと想像されている“彼ら”の存在を確実に意識する。また自分の素材に向かう。この往き来、実践ができる場所が実践考古学である。
2020年3月
This area, where the remains and pottery of the Jomon period were discovered, has a terrain shaved by the ”Katsuragawa river” that flows from Mt.Fuji and surrounding mountains. People lived by hunting the aquatic creatures brought by the Katsuragawa river.The area around the current Saruhashi bridge, which forms a steep valley around the river, is not suitable for farming or settling due to the shape of the land, and in the Yayoi period, the existence of people disappeared. However, it is said that the prototype of the “Saruhashi bridge” was made around 600. The bridge has had a very unusual structure in which wood is pierced into the cliff, as it is because the bridge girder cannot be lowered due to the steep cliff. Many architects and designers have visited to learn the structure from all over the country.In the early modern period, Saruhashi prospered as a transportation hub for Musashi, Kai, and Sagami provinces until the Chuo Line opened in 1902 and the railway hub function was established in Otsuki.
Since then, Otsuki was famous for silk-producing because the terrain was suitable for sericulture and the city had good access to the central town, until the industry moved to China. It was popular as the gateway t o Mt.Fuji as well.And this space, the “Otsuki atelier” used by Natsuyuki Nakanishi, was previously a silk factory. Until the 2000s, this area had the function of a commuter town for people who work in companies in the Tama area, but the number of such commuters are declining with the long-term recession causing many to the city center, leading to a population decrease.Anyways, it was in 2019 when we visited this place.
First time visiting the Otsuki atelier, with its partially used frames and the floor with holes and scattered paint, I trembled because of my feeling that I was inside a non-reproducible, one-time happening.In books, in the story told, in the studio, I am made aware of the existence of “them” who were supposed to have been here, and from that, I can start to head to my material. Jissen Kokogaku (Practical Archaeology) is the place where I can practice these comings and goings.
2020/03