PROJECT The Chronicle of MJWWT From December 22nd to 31st, in 1992
In December, 1992 “MJ" left 8 messages to a Japanese artist.
We will recreate the world that Michael wanted to portray in the present day.
MJ was called the "King of Pop" as the most successful artist and entertainer in history.
MJ was known as the "King of Pop" and was the most successful artist and entertainer of all time.
MJ's charitable activities outside of the music world....
He envisioned "an amusement facility that would liberate the world's poor children.
MJWWT
〜Michael Jackson Wonder World Toys〜
“During the six months before meeting you, I've been thinking about the concept of MJWWT, which is an amusement park to release the poor children all over the world. Please, illustrate the image of an amusement park which is in my head, in 10 days!"MJ has believed and entrusted his image of MJWWT to KENJI KOGA. The name of illustration of the concept is “MJWWT, Michael Jackson Wonder World Toys."Through dialogues with KENJI, as outpouring his passion, MJ drew a concept sketch in his own hands. MJ enjoyed as if a boy and drew the sketch, in some parts, described in detail. After MJ passed away, KENJI felt he understood MJ's true message from the sketch. It occurred to me that MJ left certain message to the world with this illustration. How much MJ loved human beings and Earth. And, how much MJ prayed for the improvement of environment so that all the human being can live in peace and happiness.* In sentences,"" means the words of MJ shared while drawing images.
Since fir tree grows straight toward heaven and evergreen even in winter, it had been worshiped as tree with spirit of God in it and symbol of eternal life from ancient time. MJ thought of fir tree as the eternal symbol of Earth. The MJ's
imagination of lighting all year around might have been the suggestion to people
from all around the world for decorating trees with stars stopping environmental
destruction. Holy fir tree with spirit of God and with ever lasting light for all year
around is the symbol of the prayers of those who decorate trees with light and the
rich earth which is fostered with the blessing by nature.
Water is the symbol of life. It's the source of every life on the planet. For MJ, a fountain is the symbol of rich in water which is source of life and the barometer of
civilization. From ancient time, the place itself which has fountain is the symbol of
abundance all around the world. In current world devastated by natural disasters
and man-made disaster, it is difficult to gain pure water, which is blessing from
Earth, and water is sold in exchange of money. MJ emphasized on placing a large fountain in WWT in order to convey the message of the way it should be between Earth and human being. Rich lands and abundant water is the criteria for happiness to any existence on the planet.
What did MJ want to entrust full moon with? Moon changes its shape day by day, and continue the 30-day cycle of wax and wane. In that sense, moon had been symbol of agelessness and immorality, and eternal life. The ebb and flow brought by moon presides over life and death of human being. The full moon promised to show up every month means the most abundant time. MJ knew full moon is the source to invigorate life energy. Full moon was the prayer by MJ for health of people's body and soul.
MJ repeatedly requested that the children who are skating in front are African
children and that there should be Asian children in the image. It's a warning from
MJ who knows vanity and foolishness, and tragedies caused by these. On ice rink, skating boots are needed. It's the symbolization that everybody is fair under one
condition. Boarders, races, and all the discriminations would not exist here.
What was the reason MJ emphasized on light? It's repellence toward darkness (i.e.
environmental destruction and all the negative elements on the planet) Light is righteousness. Light is the fundamental condition for birth and growth of every life on Earth. Human can give birth to and sustain life only when there are earth, water and light. To MJ, who are in show business from childhood, not spotlight but only the light backed by love can get human closer to God. MJ wished to embrace and grow pure soul which human has originally by covering WWT with abundant light.
Numerous fireworks shot up to darkness (all the evil on the Earth) are the symbol
to deny darkness. For example, it's a warning toward wars and a signal to stop environmental destruction. The hope to cope with desperation of people. The requiem for the people's cry for misery and mistakes in the past by human being. The beauty of fireworks which replace arms and the explosion which extinguish negativity. Here in MJWWT, there is no randomness and anarchism which will put people in fear. The art of light which shins beautifully and gently in night sky conquer darkness which creep into people's hearts.
Numerous wars in the world and civil wars. The refugee resulted from them. MJ
was reaching hands of help refugee, evacuees, and people suffering from poverty
throughout his life. He was filled with rage and sorrow for international wars and
refugee problems. I can remember MJ's tonality and look vividly even now. MJ said,
"Firstly, the parade starts with toy soldiers in front. It's held every day." The true
meaning of this parade is that he was requesting toy solders to symbolize emotionally the fact that an enormous number of people die in battlefields and a great number of people are suffering from environmental destruction.
Christmas is the only common day the world share the feeling of peace. Although
New Year is celebrated differently in every country due to different religion, Christmas is common language. Every one on the Earth recognize December 25 as Christmas songs are loved by all the people around the world and people share peaceful time. Here in MJ WWT, everyday is Christmas. What he wished is there be peace all around the world and every day is the day people share time with family and good friends with love and prayer. MJ was wishing people from all around the world can share peace as Christmas, suspending wars, quitting environmental destruction, being surrounded by families and good friends, or having calm days full of love and prayer toward God.
On December 25, 1992 During 10 days from the day a Japanese artist met MJ, the miraculous and deep time of two alone was given just as if it was a Christmas gift from God. It didn't take much time to be at home for the two with passion for music. He said, "For half a year before meeting you, I was thinking about amusement park, named MJWWT, which set free the poor kids from all over the world. I would like you to illustrate the place in my head in 10 days." He kept talking toward dawn until I understood the space named “MJWWT.”
Then, in the night of Christmas Eve, I told MJ that I cannot understand if he himself doesn't illustrate his concept, bluntly as if I would tell old close friends. Illustrating, MJ kept explaining the details of each part. Then, one week after I finished a few of sketches and hand it over to MJ. The true meaning of MJWWT is still uncovered. However, remembering back the miraculous 10 days with MJ now rest in peace, I think he was thinking of Wonder World Toys as Earth as a toy. Earth and human being suffering from environmental destruction. Earth and human being suffering from a lot of wars. The most affected victims by those problems are children. Toys to embrace the poor children. Through this amusement space, MJ seemed to describe “Earth" he would like to see in an enormous scale.
MJ's splendid sensitivity and creativeness. These left us with an enormous amount of master pieces both in music and visual arts. One out of these master pieces, MJ left us message which last for a few minutes at the final scene. It's about awe and reverence toward Earth. And, It was finished with a message whose meaning is unknown, "The time we have is only 5 years." What does that mean? Didn't he want to convey how human being and Earth should be and their future through MJWWT? The message he wished to communicate most is... "Love this beautiful Earth we human being live on more, and quit wars and environmental destruction. And, quit discrimination and conflict. Because children are the treasure of Earth upon which the future of Earth depends. With such a passion into MJWWT, MJ kept sending messages through musical activities with all strength and soul in order to extinguish wars around the world and environmental destruction.
KENJI KOGA/Born in Nagasaki. Resides in Tokyo. Representative artworks include the "Symbols of Peace" stamp collage, the first Japanese artwork selected for permanent collection in the UN Headquarters in New York (presentation ceremony made May 1993). The "Symbols of Peace" stamp collage carries a powerful message of mutual understanding, using these simple, tiny slips of paper to show how humanity can be united. The work incorporates recycled 20th Century stamps from every country in the world, as well as stamps issued by the UN over the last 40 years. 8 silk-screened copies are kept in perpetuity by the UN Postal Division. Koga also designed the commemorative stamp for the 1994 UN "World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction," issued in 1994 by decision of the UN Stamp Design Committee. Three of Koga's original paintings and derived works were used in 1995 by the New York, Geneva, and Vienna UN offices respectively to create the final UN commemorative stamps issued in the 20th Century,
MJ and KENJI. Photo taken sometime around 3am in January 1, 1993. The final live of "Count Down" was held at Tokyo Dome in the previous night, December 31. This day, New Year's Eve, was the day to hand in completed illustration. Although a lot of fans were counting down in the dome, he left there some time before New Year. When I hand over the completed illustration to MJ in usual pajama style, his eyes were filled with tears. Then, after three hours, he was on the way to Narita airport. XKENJI's work 01 is on the MJ's lap.