By Cathy Hirano

　Onba is a local word meaning “stroller” or “baby carriage”. Onba Factory is a project launched by a team of 5 Kagawan artists for the Setouchi International Art Festival. Their project site is Ogijima, a tiny island just 40 minutes by ferry from Takamatsu Port. Ogijima, which has a population of less than 200 with an average age of over 75 years, is a little farming-fishing community perched on a hill rising out of the sea. With only two passable roads and many narrow, winding lanes, the local (elderly) population mainly gets around by pushing strollers. These conveniently hold their belongings, help them keep their balance as they manoeuvre up and down the steep, bumpy lanes and provide a seat to rest on.


Onba Factory has taken the stroller as their motif. Their concept is to transform the local people’s strollers into works of art, inviting each person to collaborate with the artists in developing the design, choosing colors, etc. Once the stroller has been decorated, it will be returned to the owner who can enjoy utilitarian art in their daily life. In order to do this, however, the team had to win the trust of the local people. They began by building their own funky strollers, which are lent to the islanders while the islanders’ strollers are being decorated. Since last October, team members have been visiting the island every week, getting to know the islanders and their way of life. Every time they visit, the members use their funky strollers, demonstrating to the islanders that they really work.


During the art festival, Onba Factory will lend visitors their strollers, called “Onba Works”, for walking tours of the village, taking in all 12 art project sites. According to the project leader, pushing the strollers really helped them slow down and experience the island in a new way.


The Onba Factory strollers, which are works of art in themselves, are on display at the Takamatsu Ishi no Minzoku-shiryokan (Stone Folk History Museum) until May 30. There is a park just outside the museum with play equipment for children and it’s a nice place for a picnic lunch, too.


Takamatsu Ishi no Minzoku-shiryokan


Admission: adults 200 yen, university students 150 yen, high school students and under free
Address: 1810 Mure, Mure-cho, Takamatsu
Tel: 087-845-8484
Access: By car about 20 minutes east from central Takamatsu. Located near the Yakuri cable car and hiking trail. By train, about 15 minutes on foot (uphill) from Yakuri Kotoden station.