ASIA SANPO -- CUTE (English) / Contemporary Art Center, ATM

For further information, please contact at: 029-227-8111
(81-29-227-8111 if dialing from abroad)
You may also send us an E-mail at: webstaff@arttowermito.or.jp

PROMENADE IN ASIA -- CUTE
Aug. 10 (Fri.) To Oct. 21, 2001 (Sun.)

In cooperation with Shiseido Gallery, Art Tower Mito is pleased to present an exhibition simultaneously treating four different themes, each from a different part of Asia (China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan).

The exhibition focuses on works by the younger generation of East Asians, revolving around the key word of "cute."

With the relentless advance of economic development in recent years, people's lifestyles have become more uniform. Particularly, the countries of East Asia, lying in close geographical proximity, are gradually coming to resemble one another. Although Japan used to look upon its neighbors as "near, but far" countries, it would perhaps be better now to call them "near, and near." The people of East Asia in the current era can be said to share the following perception in common: they are all happy in the present moment, thanks to economic prosperity, but at the same time they are vaguely anxious about what the future has in store. That leads us to the theme of the exhibition: we have chosen the term of "cute" to describe the ambiguous feeling (happiness combined with anxiety) held by many Asians today.

We are not using "cute" merely in the sense of being charming, lovely, or sickeningly sweet, but also to mean the fervent desire of artists to impart their works with the evanescent feeling of being happy "right now and here" -- a feeling that may be lost at any moment. Altogether the works of nine artists will be introduced.

Artists and Works

Photos: Sadamu Saito

Wang Junjieh
Born in 1963 / Currently lives in Taipei

A Microbiology Association: Clothing Project / 2000-2001 / Video, clothing, magazine, photo and others

Wang Junjieh has proposed several projects on the assumption that humankind that lost the sea through diastrophism organizes "A Microbiology Association" to survive. In "Clothing Project," he gives each item of clothing a special function in order to connect people with the outside world. The exhibit includes the explanation of "A Microbiology Association," and clothing developed by the association.

Kawakami Wakako
Born in 1969 / Currently lives in Tokyo

jam-aid / 2000-2001 / Textile, timber, wire, carpet, string, and cotton

She says that making what she calls "human image" or being surrounded with many of them makes her feel at ease. In the space enclosed by fences are large human images giving small ones piggyback.

Yao Juichung
Born in 1969 / Currently lives in Taipei

Savage Paradise / 2000/ Photo and mixed media

He photographs commonplace scenes in Taiwan, and makes surrealistic images from those photographs. The work is divided into four parts--God, human, beast, and landscape. A dinosaur is depicted as a symbol of unification of holiness and barbarity.

Park Hongchun
Born in 1960 / Currently lives in Seoul

To Alice / 1994 / Photo

Using ultra-long exposure time, he photographs scenes that look like ruins where nothing moves. They are actually amusement parks and zoos in Korea, which are usually considered pleasant and busy kind of places. By erasing people from such bustling sites, he creates a lonesome atmosphere. That anxiety felt in the atmosphere is certainly the implication of CUTE.

Ku Shihyung
Born in 1960 / Currently lives in Keelung

Lightness, the way to let you lighter / 2000-2001 / Computer animation and mirror

A single image multiplies like a kaleidoscope through mirrors placed on the four sides at precisely calculated angles. The multiplied pictures are joined together to form a large circle.

Wang Qingsong
Born in 1966 / Currently lives in Beijing

Night Revels of Lao Li / 2000 / Photo

Based on "Night Revels of Han Xizai," which was painted by Gu Hongzhong around the 10th century and is a collection of Gu gong Museum, as a preliminary sketch for his work, Wang describes the current Chinese society rapidly influenced by foreign investment from Japan, Europe and the U.S. The host of the feast is Li Xianting, famous Chinese contemporary art critic. "Lao" is used as an honorific title when addressing one's familiar senior.

Iijima Ai
Born in 1971 / Currently lives in Tokyo

A Desire Room / 2000-2001 / Photo and others

She photographs what are around her, such as friends and scenes, and instants that she thinks are so attractive that she wants to share with others. She uses her exhibition space like her room, as she often photographs her room. The bed and small articles are what she actually uses.

Nishiyama Minako
Born in 1965 / Currently lives in Hyogo Prefecture

a. Sugar Crown / 2001 / Sugar, egg white, gelatin and others
b. Untitled / 2001 / acrylic paint and others

Sugar Crown is literally a crown made of sugar. It is very fragile. On the white floor space is created a pretty sweet world, and pinkish pictures are painted on the surrounding walls as well as on the ceiling. The contrast between beauty and fragility reminds us of the transient nature of beauty.

Wang Teyu
Born in 1970 / Currently lives in Taipei

No. 41 / 2001 / Textile and others

Spatial extent and density can be experienced through touching and entering the balloon.

PROMENADE IN ASIA -- CUTE
Aug. 10 (Fri.) To Oct. 21, 2001 (Sun.)

Closed on Mondays, Sept. 25 (Tue.) and Oct. 9 (Tue.), but open on Sept. 24 (Mon.) and Oct. 8 (Mon.)
Hours:	9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (No admittance after 6:00 p.m.)
Admission:	¥800 General ¥600 Advance-purchase tickets, groups (20 or more) ¥1,000 H.T.P. (one-year Pass for 15- to 19-year-olds, available at ATM and JR East) ¥2,000 Pass for Adults (one-year pass for persons aged 20 and above) Free Students (through 9th grade), senior citizens (65 and older), and handicapped persons
Curator:	Toshihiro Aasai, Curator of Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito
Organizer:	Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito
Grant from:	Japan Foundation for Regional Art-Activities (Support for Regional Arts and Cultural Environment Development)
Cooperation:	SOUM Corporation, Takeo Co., Ltd.
Supported by:	Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., TCK Corporation (Tokyo Color Kogei)

This exhibition is being supported in part by proceeds from Japan's national lottery, "Jumbo Takarakuji." Click the link below to see the Web page for Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank (DKB), which handles lottery ticket sales and prize distributions. The Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Limited (DKB)

PROMENADE IN ASIA Exhibition Catalogue


Vol.1	Vol.2

Price: ¥2,500 (Vols. 1/2, including 5% consumption tax)

Availability: Sold at the "Contrepoint" Museum Shop inside ATM

Mail to: contrepoint@arttowermito.or.jp

RELATED PROGRAMS

"Promenade" Workshops
During the "Promenade in Asia -- CUTE" Exhibition, two workshops will be held on the theme "Promenade": (1) "Odekake" Workshop by Wakako Kawakami, and (2) "Karasu-ban-ya" Workshop by Toru Koyamada.
* For further information, call Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito at (029) 227-8120.

1. "Odekake" workshop by Wakako Kawakami
Just think how much more cheerful the town would look if everyone would just take more colorful bags with them! "Odekake Bag" is Wakako Kawakami's most important work ("odekake" means "going outside" in Japanese). In the workshop on Aug. 26, she asks participants to take "Odekake Bags" with them as they go outside. Participants are advised to bring their own cameras and film.
Date: Aug. 26 (Sun.), 2001
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Participants: Limited to 20 (accepted in the order of application)
Fee: ¥2,000 (Odekake bag and DPE included)
Venue: Workshop, Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM
Application for registration: Please send a return postcard to the office or send an e-mail to asia_ws@yahoo.co.jp, stating your name, age, address, phone number, and the name of the workshop ("Odekake"), and send it to:
"Odekake" Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito
1-6-8 Goken-cho, Mito-shi, Ibaraki 310-0063

2. "Karasu-ban-ya" Workshop by Toru Koyamada
A pre-project workshop for the exhibition "Beautiful Life?" to be held in January 2002. In the workshop, participants will stroll around the town collecting junk thrown away on the street, just like crows do when they collect shiny things. Each participant will then make an "objet d'art" by arranging the things he or she retrieved on a board, thereby producing a "karasu-ban" (crow board). Although the things brought together are not related at all inherently, each participant has a special memory or story attributed to each of them. Through the workshop, participants are given a chance to view everyday things and their towns in a different perspective.
Date: Sept. 15 (Sat.), 16 (Sun.) 2001
Time: Morning sessions: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Afternoon sessions: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Participants: Limited to 20 per session (accepted in the order of application)
Fee: ¥500
Application for registration: Please write your name, age, address, and phone number, and the date (Sep. 15 or 16) and time (morning or afternoon), and the name of workshop "Karasu-ban-ya" on a return postcard (available at post offices), and send it to:
"Karasu-ban-ya" Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito
1-6-8 Goken-cho, Mito-shi, Ibaraki 310-0063

Mito Joint Learning Project "Let's Go To Art Tower!"
A guide will lead participants around the following three exhibitions: "Promenade in Asia - CUTE," "Tadashi Kawamata," and "Beautiful Life?"
* For further information, call the Life-long Education Section, Mito City Office at (029) 224-1111.

"Drowsy Talk" by Kawakami Wakako
A casual talk show designed for people who want to immerse themselves in art works and directly listen to Kawakami talk about her works. The talk gives the audience the chance to get away from their busy lives, relax, and talk freely about art with the artist.
Date: Aug. 19(Sun.), Sept. 9(Sun.), 30(Sun.), and Oct. 6 (Sat.), 2001
Time: 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Saturday Gallery Talks

During the period of the exhibition, CAC Gallery Talker gives a gallery talk on Saturdays. Attendees are requested to come to the entrance of the gallery around 2:30 p.m. on the dates listed below.

Date*: Aug. 25, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and Oct. 6, 13, 20, 2001
Time: 2:30-3:10 p.m.
(The Saturday Gallery Talk may be canceled on certain days owing to special circumstances.)

ATM Contemporary Art Gallery's
Pass for Adults

A pass has been designed for adults aged 20 and older, letting the holder make an unlimited number of visits to the Contemporary Art Gallery's exhibitions for one year from the date of purchase.
The price is ¥2,000. The artwork on the pass has been designed by Hiroko Ichihara, an artist who incorporates words in her works. The logo on the pass reads: "Contemporary art -- as easy as pie." The pass is on sale at the ticket counter in Art Tower Mito.

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