Dress

Lucent Case

Bells of Earth

Airing Book

UTSUSHI

Pierce

hundreds of boots

beads

dot

bucket garden

drawer garden

Dress

lace

Red Carpet

ribbon

break

ring ring

Goldfish

jewel

pool

Red Shoes

pierce

translate

veil

Red Shoes　赤い靴

2009

Video projection on the road / Silent

Installation view at Koganecho Bazaar 2009, 2009

Photo: Kumi Ohiwa

On a rainy day 

Photo: Nobuhiro Shimura

​Installation view at Koganecho Bazaar 2009, 2009

Video: Nobuhiro Shimura

Red Shoes is one of the notable works in Shimura's oeuvre. The projection work was displayed under the train tracks of the Keihin Express line, located in the former brothel district of Koganecho in Yokohama. Koganecho is well-known for the place depicted as the hell in Kurosawa's Cinema, High and Low (1963). In 2009, Shimura felt a dismall atmosphere still lingers on the street and attempted to restore the mood with the light. After sunset, moving images of red sneakers falling from above were projected onto a quiet street with little foot traffic. The sight of these red sneakers randomly pouring down like some sort of joke proved to be extremely popular with kids, turning this once deserted street into a lively space. On rainy days, the light from the projection reflected off the asphalt, making the shoes sparkle like diamonds – a happy turn of events that emerged from the outdoor setting of the work. At the request of the local residents, the work became a permanent installation after the end of the exhibition. Even now, it illuminates this street by night, serving as a symbol of Koganecho and how it advocates urban renewal through art.

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