Hibi 日々
Hibi 日々 (day-to-day), 2025-ongoing
participatory project
Developed during my residency at ARCUS Project in Moriya City, Japan, Hibi 日々 is part of an ongoing exploration of more-than-human relationships. At Manabi no Sato, a community education and cultural facility where the ARCUS Project is located, a lone female kojukei (Chinese bamboo partridge) lives quietly in a small outdoor enclosure. She never leaves this space. Years ago, two birds lived here and were named Yuppie and Mappie through a public naming campaign. The kojukei, though not native to Japan, is designated Moriya’s official city bird. It is also the inspiration for the city mascot, Kojumaru, a dapper and cheerful bird character. On manhole covers throughout the city, the bird is depicted as part of a symbolic family. Kojukei are typically found in pairs and are known to form long-term bonds during the breeding season. In contrast, this bird lives alone.
During my residency, I was reflecting on how we connect or disconnect from the realities of more-than-human beings. Civic identity, symbolism, and human ideas of care intersect in complex ways with the lives of other species. In this participatory work, I invited members of the public to give the bird a nickname. I call her Hibi (日々), meaning “day-to-day,” as a gesture toward her ongoing existence. Through public programming, participants are invited to visit the kojukei, which is outside on the residency building grounds. To date, names from participants include: マナ (Mana), ハッピー (Happī), アーチー／あーちゃん (Ā-chan/Archie), コッピー (Koppi), こじゅひめ (Kōju-hime), Coco, 夜明 (Yoake), Maureen, Lulu, マナ (Mana), Choku, Kouju, Momo, and more.
In English, the back of the postcard reads: In a small blue bird enclosure at “Manabi no Sato” in Moriya, a kojukei (Chinese bamboo partridge) quietly lives. Once, two kojukei lived here. Through a public naming contest, they were named “Yuppi” and “Mappi.” Now, a single kojukei lives here alone without a name. In 1974, Moriya City designated the kojukei as the “city bird,” and its image became the inspiration for the city mascot, “Kojumaru.” Would you like to think of a name you might give to her? Name: _____________ . This card is for leaving a name for the kojukei. You may take this postcard home, or send a photo of it to hello@alanabartol.com or mail it to Arcus Studio.
Thank you to ARCUS Project Program Co-Directors Makiko Onda and Yumiko Fujimoto for assisting with translation on the postcards, communication with the city and caretakers, and ongoing support of this project.
