Event period: Thursday, July 21, 2022 - Wednesday, July 27, 2022
Location: Bunkamura Box Gallery, Shibuya
My solo exhibition at Bunkamura, Shibuya in summer 2022 has ended.
It may not be something I need to show you again, but before it was set up it looked like this, with nothing there.
When we create a layout, we keep in mind how to make it easy for customers to see and how to leave a lasting impression.
The theme of this exhibition is "Propulsion."
The beautiful power that connects plants and animals to the next generation. Always take one step forward ... This message is expressed in glass.
I received a lot of compliments on my leather-bound book-shaped frames. When I first came up with the idea, I had the image of hollowing out an old book. However, the book has been made by many people, including the author, the person who designed it, and the publisher. I couldn't afford to damage such a book, so I came up with the idea of "in that case, I'll make a book from scratch myself."
Book-shaped frames and other items are arranged in a regular pattern on the wall. Since each piece is a different size, when I create the layout I create detailed diagrams to the nearest 5mm. What to place where, and in what order? Just thinking about it takes more than two days, so before a solo exhibition I feel a sense of anxiety that makes my stomach churn and my nerves are on edge.
The eye is also drawn to large, thick books placed on the floor or table. Recently, with the spread of electronic books, opportunities to touch large books have decreased. I started displaying large books a few years ago because I thought it was necessary in such an era. My work has a narrative quality, so it goes well with books.
The artwork is so small that it is not visible to people walking along the corridors or streets. I needed a device to make it noticeable from a distance and to draw people closer. That was a display of large books.
In the main window, we set up a double-page book-shaped frame that can accommodate multiple exhibits. Around it, we displayed dinosaur fossils such as fangs, horns, and teeth in an irregular arrangement, creating a display reminiscent of the cluttered desk of an archaeologist or paleontologist.
I introduced the electric furnace and hand mill that I use to create my works, processed to look like old photographs. I don't go into too much detail about the materials and processing methods, in order to maintain a sense of mystery and to prevent imitation, but since I don't think it's possible to imitate them anymore, I showed a little bit of what I use to create my works.
This exhibition has been a very difficult period due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections just before the opening. COVID-19 is still raging, but even after more than two years, there are no clear standards for countermeasures or actions, and it is left up to each individual. In such a situation, it is difficult to say "Please come," but I am grateful beyond words to those who "no matter what" came to this exhibition, which may be my last Bunkamura solo exhibition of the summer.
I'm sure there are some people who really wanted to go but decided to hold off due to the current situation. I'll be holding a solo exhibition at Bunkamura, Shibuya from December 2nd to 8th. I hope the infection will be under control by winter... then please come and see it.