What do the studded circles and squares mean?

The space containing the “Bar Echigo Shina-nogawa” is a creation of an artist.

First take a look around. Did you notice that everything around you, the tables, ceiling, bookshelves, are all circular?

Next, zoom out and imagine KINARE as a building standing in Echigo-Tsumari. KINARE has a square like shape, while the tables inside are circular. Hence, the name Circle in Square “〇in□”.

Incidentally, each of the circular tables has a black line drawn across it, and when these lines connect to form a singular line, it represents the Shinano River. The round lights hanging from the ceiling are the clouds that float above the Shinano River, and the circular disks represent bubbles that appear on the surface of the river.

And here, the art poses a question to you.

What happens when you swap circles and squares for regions and cities?

Now, imagine the earth. KINARE with its square-like appearance may also contain the circular earth. There is a square within a circle. There is a circle within a square. Both complement each other.

Regions and cities, agriculture and IT, nature and human beings......

Human beings in modern day society also live in the inner space between the circle and square. The contrast between the circle and square, city and regions is essential

Circle in Square 〇in□, and Square in Circle □in〇. “Humans are contained within nature” is the concept that is constantly present throughout the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field. Through your travel in Echigo-Tsumari, you should be able to realize that you are contained within nature too.