KOEBI TAIMES
What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?

We heard the “reason” fromall over the world tocome to “koebitai”

Bjoern Nussbaecher
From Munich, Germany
Why did you join Koebi activities?
The best to get know about a country is to workin that country. It was a great opportunity to help
on such an awesome art festival like the Setouchi
Triennale and to make things happening and to
get a little bit more to know about Japan andsome sense for the people and culture. Also, I
could not only get an inside in the finished art-work but the working process of creating an art
piece. As an artist my personal interest is also
driven by curiosity in this topic and attitude.
But I think it’s also very important to realizethat this festival is not only about art but also
about how to connect through art different
kind of people (like students, residents, old,young, communities, local enterprises, all worktogether) come together and it gives an impact
to the Islands and local infrastructure. Art canconnect and it creates a sort of space to reflect
on. In this sense joining such activities is thelogical consequence if you think about art ina broader sense.

Saulė Poškutė
From Vilnius, Lithuania

Ariel NG

Phoebe WongYe Yang

From Hong Kong

From Hong Kong

Why did you join Koebi activities?

Why did you join Koebi activities?

Why did you join Koebi activities?

Why did you join Koebi activities?

I study visual arts and have an interest in
knowing different cultures through art. During
different volunteer activities in Europe I was
lucky to meet my Japanese friend that introduced
me to Setouchi Triennale and encouraged me
to join the Koebi volunteer team. I was excitedthat I have found the Setouchi festival as theidea of it was very close to me and seemed that
it was exactly what I was looking for, perfectopportunity to go to Japan for the first time andbe involved in Koebi activities.

The initial reason maybe just about arts.
Community art and urbanrevitalisation areinteresting. But behind arts festival, Koebi activities are the combination of humanity, nature,history, art and etc. As an oversea participant, I
am long for staying in nature. How’s relaxing
to see sea, sunset and forest everyday! It’s also
nice to communicate with Japanese and oversea
Koebitai. Listen stories of surrounding islands. I
learned a lot and got a great experience in here.
Everyday is enjoyable and fruitful.

When I was still studying in University as a Fine
Art student, Mr Kitagawa(General Director)
came to our school and introduced the Setouchi
International Art Festival to us. In other to know
more about this festival, instead of sightseeing, I
think the best way is to join Koebi voluntary team tohelp preparing the festival with the locals and artist.
So for this year I designed to put a little spice
to my life. I escaped from the busy life in Hong
Kong and give myself a challenge to explore anew place, a new culture.

When I visited Setouchi Triennale as a tourist
in 2016, I was deeply impressed by the imageof volunteers being enthusiastic and waving at
the dock, so this year I became t one of them,as I wanted, to welcome people from all over
the world, provide them with guidance and try
my best to make Setouchi Triennale a place
where every visitor can have good memories,
just like I had here three years ago. At the sametime, I can also experience Setouchi Triennale
in another way.

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?

The best thing about the volunteering experience
was the opportunity to meet all of the great
people. The artists, the volunteers, the organizers! Different ages different nationalities, fromdifferent backgrounds and with different point ofview. While living in the dormitory and spendingtime in the big kitchen and tasting food kindly
prepared by other volunteers you can travel to
Taiwan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia...
And also the stunning nature of the Seto islands,
that I could explore because of joining Koebi
activities and the art that Triennale brings tothem was very inspiring! Thank You!

You. Yes, I mean all of you! Thanks every lovely
and friendly people I met in here. I miss youand love you all hahaha!! From a stranger tobecome “not that unfamiliar”. Thankful that wetried to step closer; remembered how we smile,work, talk, laugh and hug. I feel like I am living
in a big family where always full of caring andlove. The process of building relationship may
difficult but I am lucky to have a great one in
Koebitai.

Didn’t expected to meet so many new friends
from all over the world. Work with new partners
everyday, we share different thoughts andopinions not only limited to art appreciation
but also the cultures of our countries. Everyone
is so nice and helpful.
Besides my Japanese language skills, myMandarin & English also improved a lot :)Having myself soaked in Art and surroundedby the beautiful ocean of Setouchi, I feel sorelax and relief. This gives me motivation tostart doing artworks again.

First of all, I experienced Setouchi Triennalefrom a different perspective from ordinary tourists. At Shima Kitchen in Teshima, for example,
after the restaurant closed, the chef cooked us abowl of curry rice, simple but surprisingly tasty
that other tourists cannot experience.Secondly,
as a volunteer, we not only saw the wonderfulart works presented by the Triennale, but also
worked with artists to complete a work of art,
which was a very rare experience.Last but notleast, in the dormitory, we can also make friends
from all over the world. It was worth your while
to cook and chat together after work. Even after
the activities ended, we still kept in touch witheach other, which was also a wealth of life forme to join Koebi activities.

Her first time in Japan was in thefestival and Koebitai! This surprised the immigration officers.

She joined us three times! Thereunion of Koebitai members
made her really happy.

She was anxious at first, but got
used to it so quickly! Then shecame back here in autumn.

From Shanghai, China

She made a presentation for Mr
Fram Kitagawa to persuade him
to organize the festival in her
hometown. Amazing!

Chieh Jou LEE
Hui Chien Chang
Chu Yun Cheng
From Taiwan
Why did you join Koebi activities?
We saw some information about Setouchi
Triennale on many travel books and online
articles before. Aftersome research, we foundout about the volunteering activity. As we are allvery interested in art, we took this opportunity tolearn more about the art festival and the Setouchi
Sea. And since we had a great deal of volunteer
experience last year at Kohebitai, so at the endof last year, we thought that we must participate
in this year Koebitai volunteer.

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?
It was a wonderful time to live near that sea;leaving the busy life at school behind andmeeting volunteers from all over the world.
Besides the meetings and project-making before
the festival, and the time while we look after
the works at the counter during the festival, thedormitory life also allowed us to understandeach other different ideas and ways of life. Forus, the story in Setouchi is not only the historyof the island but also the story of many people.
Everything we have experienced here has madeus grow and we love you.

I really liked that you get know a lot of people
from everywhere and this creates a sort ofsocial impact, what is really interesting. For
me as a European it was awesome to sleep in a
Buddhistic temple and to go almost every day
to Onsen, because we really don t have this stuffin Germany. I liked the way of concentrated
work and calmness during the activities not likein Europe there’s so much shouting and noise.
People are really friendly here and helpful andfor sure everybody gives his best. That helps me
specially to reflect on my own culture I comingfrom a sort of different angle and perspective I
got know in Japan the first time. And I love tocook all this crazy dish with my new friends
from Japan and Taiwan. The service here isreally good and our host-team was amazing
and tried to help us wherever they could. This
serving us makes me motivated to serving thefestival as good I can with all my skills andknowledge.

He was a student of Christiaan
Bastiaans! What a small world!

Françoise Serusclat

the rhythm. But everybody -staff and others
volunteers- were so kind, helpful. The job as art
receptionist was fun, or helping in the cafe. It
was also a way to really enjoy and understandthe artwork I was in charge with, a proudness
to be thought by Koebi of being able to do thejob. Furthermore I noticed that Japanese visitors
were absolutely not upset if you couldn’t speak
Japanese and already tried to communicate inEnglish. In Takamatsu, I met many inhabitants
who were pleased to hear that I was a Koebi
volunteer. It was also nice to have the senseof being really part of this shared Triennale inSetouchi and to enjoy for a longer period thebeauty of the sea and the nature of Seto.

From Paris, France
Why did you join Koebi activities?
I joined the Koebi activities the last fall session because I had been visiting the Setouchi
Triennale as a tourist in 2016. I had been very
impressed by the quality of the artworks of theartists who took part in the revival of the islands,
the fact that the population on the islands werepart of the projects, and as I heard that everyone
could join as a volunteer I already made the plan
to apply in 2019 as I absolutely love Japan andwanted to be there for a longer experience, not
as a simple tourist. Besides I am principallyinterested in art and also the landscape andatmosphere of Seto : those were more reasons
why I wanted to join.

This French lady came here byherself! She enjoyed Koebitai
and stayed even for three weeks.

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?
I absolutely enjoyed taking part of Koebi,
although it was a little though for me as “elderly”
person at the beginning to accommodate toTasi Yashan
From Taiwan

Yoshihito MIMASU
From Kyoto, JapanShaogi Shouko Chuah
From Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Why did you join Koebi activities?

Why did you join Koebi activities?

Why did you join Koebi activities?

This is the first time for me to join Koebitai. I
like art and the ocean, and have always wantedto participate in the Setouchi Triennale. While
searching for the information of the festival,
I noticed Koebitai. It was great to join thefestival as a volunteer. Honestly, I wanted tohelp the artists in preparing to put up theirartworks, but didn’t find time for it this time.
Next time, I will definitely join in it and help
out more!

I decided to take a leave of absence from graduate school and wondered how I would spend
my free time. Then one of my acquaintances
told me about Koebitai. I had never visited theSetouchi Triennale nor Takamatsu, so I thoughtworking as a member of Koebitai would bea great challenge for me. Since my research
field in university was quite close to art andmy interest in art was growing, I gathered up
the courage to decide to join in Koebi activities.

I joined koebi activities to meet new people
and to learn new things while volunteering. Inaddition, I could apply the Japanese languagethat I had learnt while also improve my Japanese
language skills and vocabulary. Other thanthat I could learn more about Japanese culture
hands-on.

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?

I made great memories from it! Everyone inKoebitai was very kind and bright and thatmade me really happy. It was wonderful that
I had many experiences such as showing artworks to visitors with other Koebitai members,
enjoying the artworks together and meeting avariety of people. Interesting themed parties atthe Koebi Dormitory were amazing! The staff
members of the dormitory carefully and fully
prepared for every party. I always enjoyed
them. That was a pleasant memory! Thank you
so much.

The best things of the activities were an opportunity to encounter a variety of people andexperiences. I have met with other members ofKoebitai that had colourful personalities as well
as local people, some unique artworks which
made me ponder the definition of art and various
attractive aspects of the Setouchi area showing
the clear blue colour of the ocean and beautiful
sunsets. I had irreplaceable experiences throughthe activities with these people and the things
I saw.

Koebi activities involve teamwork and engage
all volunteers to complete a task, for scrubbing
the surfaces of grey books. The activities aremostly physical but I enjoyed them as thestaff is very friendly and work alongside thevolunteers. Everyone is being treated equaland no discrimination was felt even though
the volunteers were international.

She fluent Japanese helped usa lot with interpreting.

What did you find great about
joining Koebi activities?

Team Pulau Penang! All art lovers enjoyed helping to create
artworks.

He got really into the festival since
the autumn session and extended
his stay until the very end!

This trio of friends joined theKoebi meeting in Taiwan before
the spring session.

Please feel free to contact us
Nonprofit Organization Setouchi Koebi Network
1-1,Sunport,Takamatsu-City,Kagawa 760-0019,JAPANE-mail info@koebi.jp