Because they recognized it. That cup—it had a hairline crack. The tape was yellowed, brittle. It looked like someone had tried to fix it in a hurry and then simply... left it. When you walk into a pristine white cube gallery, you are an observer. When you walk into a room where a teacup is floating above you, you become a trespasser. You ask: Who lived here? Why did they leave this? That question is the artwork. Not the cup.
Then you get wet. That is the art.
(Smiles) Art is the discipline of lying beautifully. I lie about decay. I lie about emptiness. But the feeling you get when you stand in my room? That feeling is the truth. Part 4: The Full Archive – Why No Digital Copies? I: This is for fans desperately searching for a "Rie Tachikawa interview full" video or PDF—you famously refuse to archive your work digitally. Why?
So you are a storyteller?