Menu Close

The Flow of Kindness

 

※Part of the artwork has been damaged and is currently undergoing restoration. We will announce the reopening of the exhibition at a later date. (Added October 13, 2025)


This proposal is primarily centered around a temporary timber structure installation that extends across the public square at Chiba City Zoological Park. It also represents a collaborative public art initiative, created with the citizens of Chiba.

The curved form of the installation was inspired by the image of people standing hand in hand, forming a line side by side—reminiscent of Matisse’s iconic painting The Dance. It symbolizes the enduring presence of support and companionship, conveying the message that, no matter the circumstances, people always be able to support one another.

The surface of the installation will be treated as a blackboard, with the overall length spanning between 20 and 30 meters. The exact shape will adapt to the specific conditions of Chiba City Zoological Park’s public square. During the opening and throughout the exhibition period of the Chiba City Arts Triennale, citizens will be invited to collectively draw and write “encouraging messages for strangers” on the blackboard with colored chalk.

This proposal seeks to encourage an exchange of goodwill, inviting individuals to express kindness in a simple, yet profound manner. It offers a gentle and heartfelt way to convey a message of reassurance to those facing challenges or criticism in life: “It’s okay, you’re doing wonderfully, and keep going.”

Schedule

・May 2025: Begin coordination with the manufacturing plant and proceed with detailed design of the installation. Consider safety, ease of movement and reuse, specific installation and dismantling methods, and on-site maintenance procedures.
・June 2025: Create design drawings and request sample production of the unit at the Chinese factory. At the same time, conduct safety and reusability tests on the sample.
・July 2025: Plan to complete production at the Chinese factory. Simultaneously, contact shipping companies to prepare for transportation to Japan (scheduled to arrive by early August at the latest).
・August–November 2025: Plan to display the installations at various locations within Chiba City.
・Late November–December 2025: Plan to conclude the exhibition and dismantle the installations.

Zhang Jie (ReBuild Lab)

ZHANG Jie (b. 1994) is a spatial designer and artist based in Shanghai, specializing in temporary installations and spatial interventions. Through her work, she reimagines local materials to create dramatic and poetic moments within the everyday spaces. From 2013 to 2018, ZHANG studied architecture at Huaqiao University in her hometown, Xiamen, and earned her bachelor’s degree. Throughout five years of architectural training, she developed a growing interest in urban spaces and everyday landscapes. In 2018, she continued her studies at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), where she began experimenting with temporary timber structures and textile materials. In 2019, she created her first installation and founded her studio, ReBuild Lab. That same year, she was awarded a travel research scholarship from HKU’s Department of Architecture, which enabled her to conduct research on urban spaces in Paris and Barcelona. After earning her master’s degree from HKU in 2020, ZHANG moved to Shanghai to establish her independent practice. From 2020 to 2022, she worked at Archimixing, an architecture atelier, contributing to a variety of public architecture projects. This experience deepened her understanding of the practical aspects of spatial design, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and how to navigate the challenges of reality. While continuing to offer design services for local retail brands and government projects—many of which focus on urban space development—she has also worked at Banana Fish Books, an art bookstore and exhibition space in Shanghai, for several months. In this role, she manages daily operations and participates in curatorial activities for the Shanghai Art Book Fair. On one hand, ZHANG explores the reshaping and reconstruction of space as a central approach to her artistic practice. On the other, she draws on the technical and practical expertise gained throughout her professional design career to inform her artistic work. ZHANG and her studio ReBuild Lab has received numerous accolades for her work, including the Outstanding Proposal Award at the 2023 Zhoushan “Hello, Islands” (こんにちは、小島さん) installation competition, an Honorary Mention in the 2023 Reuse Italy Ruins Renovation competition, an Honorary Mention in the 2022 Tallinn Architecture Biennale Vision competition, a Shortlist Nomination in the 2021 Ann Arbor Art Center Alley Project competition, First Place in the 2020 UK Bubble Future competition, and Second Place in the 2019 India Archasm competition. In November 2024, Zhang and ReBuild Lab was invited by the artist residency program of the Promised Land Art Festival l (理想.
More details

Exhibitions & events of this art project