We will be holding a talk and dialogue event called “Chi-C-W Club” (pronounced as Chi-ku-wa) at Arts Unagi.The theme of the first session is “creation” and “common sense”. Using the Art Triennale as an opportunity, why not join the conversation?

In September 2025, the intensive exhibition and presentation period for the “Chiba International Art Triennale 2025” (commonly known as Chibagei), a festival of citizen-participatory art projects, will begin.

During the Triennale, Chi-C-W Club—short for Chiba City, Create, and Wonderful talk in a circle—,launched by members of the Chibagei organizing team, will offer time for dialogue with various people, focusing on keywords we want to consider now.

The theme of the first session is: 〈What does it mean to create? Why do we need art that goes beyond ‘common sense’?〉At Chibagei, art projects by 32 artists from Japan and abroad are being carried out all over the city, and the results will be exhibited this autumn.

Each artist focuses on different aspects of Chiba City—bringing attention to overlooked elements of daily life or reimagining the use of spaces and objects in unexpected ways. Some viewers may find these projects intriguing, others may be startled, inspired, or even left wondering, “What does this mean?”

Hiroshi Fuji, one of the participating artists in Chibagei, refers to this behavior and role of artists as “super-common sense (going beyond common sense).” Not “uncommon” sense, but “super” common sense. What does it mean when art shakes up the things we take for granted?

Using this idea as a starting point, this session will explore the themes of “creation” and “common sense.”

Whether you’re curious about the theme, interested in art and culture, or want to get involved with Chiba City and community development—everyone is welcome. Let’s use the Art Triennale as an opportunity to gather, reflect, and start a conversation together.

Guest Hiroshi Fuji is scheduled to present his work “Frogs in 33 years” which contemplates the future of waste, at the Chiba International Art Festival 2025.

Event Overview

• Date and Time: September 27(Sat), 2025, 6:15 PM – 8:00 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)
• Venue: Arts Unagi (2F, Former Unagi Yasuda, 9-14 Ichiba-cho, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, 260-0832）
  [No Parking available/No Elevator access]
• Participation Fee: Free
• Eligibility: Anyone interested in the event theme, such as art festivals, community activities, Chiba City, urban development, etc.
• Capacity: 15 participants (first-come, first-served / advance registration required; same-day registration possible if space is available)
• Contact: Chiba International Art Triennale 2025
  Chi-C-W Club Project Public Relations Team（ pr@chiba-triennale.com）

Schedule for the Day

• 6:15 PM～　Opening：Introduction to the Chi-C-W Club / Today’s Theme / Ground Rules for a Safe and Inclusive Space
• 6:30 PM～　Listen：Guest talk 
• 7:10 PM～　Talk：Dialogue Session with Participants
• 7:50 PM～　Closing：Sharing Reflections / Wrap-Up

Guest Profile

Hiroshi Fuji
Artist / Professor at Akita University of Art

Born in Kagoshima in 1960. After immersing himself in theater while attending Kyoto City University of Arts, he worked as an instructor at the National School of Arts in Papua New Guinea and as an urban planning consultant in Tokyo before practicing project-based art expression nationwide.

 In 1992, he won the Japan Art Scholarship (Grand Prize) at the “2025 Frog Pond Symposium.” He has participated in numerous international exhibitions, including the Bangladesh Biennale (Grand Prize), Site Santa Fe Biennale, and Setouchi International Art Festival, and has been involved in many art projects both domestically and internationally. 

Notable projects include “101 Skinny Dogs” made from pillars of demolished houses, “The Rice Frog Story” starting with a month’s salary worth of rice, “Vinyl Plastics Connection” accumulating household waste materials,“Kaekko” and “Jurassic Plastic” utilizing discarded toys, and“Fujishima Hachijūrō”, which creates a fictional key figure. After serving as Director of Towada Art Center, he is currently a Professor at Akita Prefectural University of Art.

What is the Chi-C-W Club?

Launched in October 2024 as an interactive workshop event where people connected to Chiba City—regardless of affiliation or title—can meet and discuss using the Chiba International Art Festival as an “opportunity.”  The initiators are members of the “Regional Leaders” team, residents near Chiba City involved in planning and operating “Chiba International Art Festival 2025.”

How to Participate/Apply
Please apply via the application form.
〈Application Period: August 26（Tue）, 2025 to September 26（Sat）, 2025〉

Other

At the Chi-C-W Club, we place great importance on creating a space where every participant can feel safe and comfortable.In particular, during the “dialogue session,” where participants and guests gather in a circle to talk, we ask everyone to follow the Chi-C-W Club Ground Rules, which emphasize mutual respect, active listening, and refraining from denial or personal attacks.Please be aware of this in advance.

Heatstroke Prevention Measures

Please take measures to prevent heatstroke by staying hydrated and wearing a hat, etc., according to the environment. If you feel unwell, please notify a nearby staff member.

Photography and Video Recording

Photography and video recording will be conducted on the day for promotional and record-keeping purposes. Media outlets may also conduct interviews and filming. Photographs and videos taken may be published on the Chiba International Art Festival website, social media, brochures, and other promotional materials, as well as on television, magazines, and other media. We kindly ask for your understanding in advance.