These three tapes are part of a cycle on Taoist elements: Mont Fuji refers to the Earth, Dolmen to stone, Rangitoto to fire.
Each of these works as a standalone piece, as well as within Ko Nakajima's œuvre. The author uses an electronic image synthesiser that he invented: the Animaker nicknamed “Ko-puter”. This machine allows him a great deal of flexibility in terms of visual treatment: the digitized landscapes are combined, multiplied, and superimposed in various ways, creating some wonderful kaleidoscopes. Rangitoto is a volcano in New Zealand that resembles Mount Fuji. The Maori believe that their soul will return to the volcano after their death.
Mount Fuji is also a cultural emblem: reproductions of the mountain can be seen all over Japan, its image in inseparable from the history of the country. In Dolmen, the dancers are petrified and a videocassette is found in the ground as though the modern electronic technique had natural and telluric roots. Ko Nakajima's work celebrates nature with liberal use of special effects of all kinds.

Hyppolite Massardier
Translated by Anna Knight