Born in 1960 in Kagoshima, Japan. While grappling to find his “artistic expression,” he joined the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in 1986 and lived in Papua New Guinea for two years, teaching at the National Arts School. There, he witnessed a feeble, shabby-looking dog which was a just weak animanl. However, it stood up against a wild hog to springe it for a ceremony. The dog’s transformation shocked and impressed Fuji. He established his artistic concept as “ways of transforming existences (thoughts) that are not valued by society into special existences.” Since returning to Japan, he has continued his creative work with “local resources, appropriate technology, and collaborative relationships (expression through materials acquired on the spot, using methods suitable for the place, with people present at the time)” for community-based art projects. His “kaekko” project offers a space for children to trade toys with each other, and for creating new pieces based on the collected toys.
