TIANYANG WU

When people look at beautiful artworks, they tend to ignore and forget the ugly truth that inspired the creation. Hayao Miyazaki is an artist who grew aware of an “ugly truth” and has been trying to propose beautiful possibilities. Economic pressures lead to environmental destruction, which breaks the relationship between humankind and nature. He argues that humankind is the product of nature, and must always depend on nature. This is a fact that no power, including modern science and technology, can change. This has long been the main subject of Miyazaki’s unique perspective in his animated films.  

This thesis proposes an exhibition to deepen the audiences’ comprehension of Miyazaki’s films by analyzing the connection between his works and reality, reminding viewers that humans are harming themselves when fighting for resources and destroying the natural environment in the name of the economy. 

This widespread exhibition will present Miyazaki’s works and invite debates on five related topics: the hunting of whales, water pollution, animism, nuclear power, and forest protection. These topics are explored through eight scattered sites in Japan that provided the inspirations for his animations. Pavilions at each location are designed to enlighten the audience through a constructive approach, allowing visitors to form their own views on these topics. When audiences from all over the world are put into the physical and cultural environment Miyazaki portrays, they will start to make connections between the movie and reality without thinking. With the hints provided by the pavilion designs, they will leave with a new perspective on these topics throughout the world.