First of all The Quietness: The Future and Our Time Kenji Ekuan Chairman, Japan Finland Design Association JFDA (Japan) Chairman, GK Design Group Thank you very much for your attendance to the symposium. I feel so regretful and apologize for not being able to attend the symposium because I'll have to attend ICOGRADA International Congress in Nagoya for making presentation of Design for the World. At the beginning of the symposium, let me talk about the quietness. The word "quietness" makes us feel something being taken aback deep in our mind. I guess this might be a matter people world over may share in common. Perhaps this feeling has been existing in man's mind since our history started even before language, and the feeling has made ourselves as human beings. Finding the quietness, so to speak, and it is the discovery of humanity, I believe. To me, the quietness has formed the foundation of every culture. Along with the foundation, I suspect that currently a situation with something a little anxious is emerging. We have been in very noisy time continuously for the last a hundred years or so. So much so that we have been in uneasy time and our sense of daily life and order have been kept disturbed. While coming into 21st century, the uneasiness is still going on without showing its end. I feel like our mother earth will end up with a catastrophe if it is going on as it is now, and we all are being urged to prevent it. In this sense, the quietness is our daily concern. Through the quietness we may be able to obtain a very good way to reflect ourselves and our existence. Therefore in that sense, when we seek and re-hold the quietness in our mind, we can come to see our societies more clearly, and also we can find what attitude we have to have in response to such societies. I assume this is the function of the quietness though it sounds a bit exaggerated. Aforementioned primary cultures of the quietness are expressed in different style to each other according to a regional tradition. One of these expression styles comes in a kind of a device. The device induces the quietness into our mind, and as the result we can find our own existence and get refreshed. In this meaning, za-zen (meditation in sitting posture) is deemed as the device as a zen master Mr. Eizan Goto said that za-zen is an ultimate way to obtain the quietness. It is a superb practice to acquire the quietness in which you meditate through your well postured body and controlled breathing. The way is not necessarily easy for every one but with tremendous possibility it has been widely practiced for centuries and various cultures were born through it. The tea ceremony is another way for the quietness. The ceremony is a culture has existed for five centuries. It is really the way of getting quietness by sipping a cup of tea which is practiced in certain manner and facilities such as a crafted bowl and a small cottage well designed to meet the purpose. I believe this is a very good and effective system that everybody can enjoy. The system can also be deemed as the device. When we think further, a religion might be it. Take a church for example, light and the quietness in that atmosphere really impresses our mind. The atmosphere can be put as "holy" so to speak. We can experience this sort of space in Buddhism hall, too. The quietness in this sort of space may be the one we are actually looking for in our daily life. By means of light and smell of incense alike, such a space is facilitating the quietness and opportunities to look into ourselves. Partaking the event with the symposium this time, we are holding the exhibition centered by the quietness. Fifteen young Finnish artists are getting together, and created respective works under their proposals of a device connoting the quietness. It is so interesting that in the course of seeking the quietness, their various self expressions are developed. The further quest of the quietness is now becoming possible because to continue itself has attracted people in sharing the quest. When I discussed about the theme with people of Japan Finland Design Association, everybody instantly agreed upon it by saying "that's it!" The agreement symbolically represents the more importance of the quietness in the twenty-first century. I suppose that a kind of order may be born in the midst of noisy societies. As far as we keep seeking the quietness with heartfelt peace in our mind, the peace may be achieved in the long run. Today, you can expect many thoughts of many persons. Above all besides the exhibition, I believe that the panelists may express very interesting opinions about the quietness from their unique point of view at the symposium. Well, this is all about my message and I hope you may excuse me for my absence. Secretariat Japan Finland Design Association (Japan) c/o The Finnish Institute in Japan 3-5-39 Minami Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 106-8561 c/o GK Graphics Incorporated telephone : 03-5952-6831 facsimile : 03-5952-6832 e-mail : jfda@gk-design.co.jp previous