In Asian culture, the question ‘did you eat rice?’ means ‘have you eaten?’ (usually referring to a specific meal: breakfast, lunch or dinner). Moreover, this question could also function as a greeting and an expression of concern for someone; for example, a substitute for ‘how have you been?’, ‘are you okay?’ or ‘is everything all right?’.
The experimental documentary film Did You Eat Rice? explores the sensitive relationships which exist between local farmers and their natural environments during the rice harvest in Omachi, Japan. In this production, various subjects, as well as the audience, are asked the question ‘did you eat rice?’.
Special participants: Kazuhiro Kasag (Maruta), Kouji Yamamoto, Naho Yamamoto, Hiroko Nakazawa and 11 students at Miasa School
Directed, filmed and edited by Ellie Kyungran Heo
Supported by Omachi City Council, Nagano, Japan
Developed during Asahi Artist in Residence, 2016
Translated by Youngseop Yoo & Suyeon Heo (into Korean), Domin Chong (into English)
Supported by Omachi City Council, Nagano, Japan
Developed during Asahi Artist in Residence, 2016
Translated by Youngseop Yoo & Suyeon Heo (into Korean), Domin Chong (into English)
Sounds That Grow Rice, 2016, work in progress, installation views at Isshi Art Space, Omachi, Nagano, Japan