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Wood Rots Like We Do (2023)
Film, 71 minutes
A film about the ancient shrines of Ise, entirely rebuilt of wood every 20 years, and what they can teach us about regenerative, cyclical design that transcends time. The film is the outcome of a four year collaboration between Matthew and the city of Ise, Japan, supported by British Council Japan. Culminating in a film told through the stories of 14 participants including priests, politicians, artists, NGOs, activists, foresters, carpenters and architects.
Originally released in 20 chapters online, the films are oriented in portrait format to better capture the forms of the many trees featured, as well as the medium of social media. The films have been subsequently screened at locations including The NewBridge Project in Newcastle as part of VIDEOCITY’s Delicate Liminalities / 些細な狭間 and in St. Gallen, Switzerland as part of Stiftung Sitterwerk Foundations’ Sitter-Ciné 2025.
Articles
Building Centre
British Council Japan
Woodland Heritage
Watch full film
Credits
Film by: Matthew Rosier
Videographer: Will Heynen
Organised and funded by: Ise City
Supported by: British Council
Local coordination support: Living Together Co. (Yoko Negami, Yuko Sato, Mami Katsuya, Akane Kanagawa)
Additional funding: DAIWA Foundation & Arts Council England
Tokyo / Nagano coordination support: Minami Hirayama
Japanese transcription: Minami Hirayama
Graphic design: Minami Hirayama
Sound design & composition: Greg White
Live translation: Keiko Yamaguchi, Kei Nakayama, Jaime Humphreys, Nanami Akimoto
Wood Rots Like We Do (2023)
Film, 71 minutes
A film about the ancient shrines of Ise, entirely rebuilt of wood every 20 years, and what they can teach us about regenerative, cyclical design that transcends time. The film is the outcome of a four year collaboration between Matthew and the city of Ise, Japan, supported by British Council Japan. Culminating in a film told through the stories of 14 participants including priests, politicians, artists, NGOs, activists, foresters, carpenters and architects.
Originally released in 20 chapters online, the films are oriented in portrait format to better capture the forms of the many trees featured, as well as the medium of social media. The films have been subsequently screened at locations including The NewBridge Project in Newcastle as part of VIDEOCITY’s Delicate Liminalities / 些細な狭間 and in St. Gallen, Switzerland as part of Stiftung Sitterwerk Foundations’ Sitter-Ciné 2025.
Articles
Building Centre
British Council Japan
Woodland Heritage
Watch full film
Film, 71 minutes
A film about the ancient shrines of Ise, entirely rebuilt of wood every 20 years, and what they can teach us about regenerative, cyclical design that transcends time. The film is the outcome of a four year collaboration between Matthew and the city of Ise, Japan, supported by British Council Japan. Culminating in a film told through the stories of 14 participants including priests, politicians, artists, NGOs, activists, foresters, carpenters and architects.
Originally released in 20 chapters online, the films are oriented in portrait format to better capture the forms of the many trees featured, as well as the medium of social media. The films have been subsequently screened at locations including The NewBridge Project in Newcastle as part of VIDEOCITY’s Delicate Liminalities / 些細な狭間 and in St. Gallen, Switzerland as part of Stiftung Sitterwerk Foundations’ Sitter-Ciné 2025.
Articles
Building Centre
British Council Japan
Woodland Heritage
Watch full film
Credits
Film by: Matthew Rosier
Videographer: Will Heynen
Organised and funded by: Ise City
Supported by: British Council
Local coordination support: Living Together Co. (Yoko Negami, Yuko Sato, Mami Katsuya, Akane Kanagawa)
Additional funding: DAIWA Foundation & Arts Council England
Tokyo / Nagano coordination support: Minami Hirayama
Japanese transcription: Minami Hirayama
Graphic design: Minami Hirayama
Sound design & composition: Greg White
Live translation: Keiko Yamaguchi, Kei Nakayama, Jaime Humphreys, Nanami Akimoto
Film by: Matthew Rosier
Videographer: Will Heynen
Organised and funded by: Ise City
Supported by: British Council
Local coordination support: Living Together Co. (Yoko Negami, Yuko Sato, Mami Katsuya, Akane Kanagawa)
Additional funding: DAIWA Foundation & Arts Council England
Tokyo / Nagano coordination support: Minami Hirayama
Japanese transcription: Minami Hirayama
Graphic design: Minami Hirayama
Sound design & composition: Greg White
Live translation: Keiko Yamaguchi, Kei Nakayama, Jaime Humphreys, Nanami Akimoto