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Living Together is Easy
Jan. 24 (Sat) to Mar. 28 (Sun), 2004 (Closed on Mondays)
With the curtain risen on the 21st century, we find that the balance that had previously sustained the world has collapsed, leaving confusion and malevolence in its place.
That is very different to the image of the 21st century held by people a mere three or four years ago, at the end of the 20th century, when it was seen as 'the coming of the age when we could all live together.'
Several factors -- the expectations of and disillusionment with globalization, the problems concerning the coexistence of different or foreign cultures, the issues of environmental protection in the face of accelerating contamination, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, and the seemingly endless string of wars -- have combined to destroy the concept of people as citizens of the planet Earth, rather than of a particular country or race.
Despite the title of the exhibition, living together is not an easy task, and if we look at reality, we see just how difficult it can be. The exhibition introduces the works of 12 artists experimenting with new forms of expression to explore their position within that dilemma. Comprising video, sculpture, painting, installations, and photography, among others, the works present the differences and similarities in the interpretation of 'living together,' both in Australia's multicultural society and in Japan, where people are still bound by the myth of a homogenous society.
The exhibition has been organized as a form of cultural exchange, with curators from both countries having worked together on its preparation. After being shown at the Art Tower Mito (ATM), the exhibition will travel to
the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
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Exhibition Details
Title: Living Together is Easy
Period: Jan. 24 (Sat) to Mar. 28 (Sun), 2004
Venue: Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (no entrance after 5:30 p.m.)
Closed on Mondays
Fee: ¥800 (General), ¥600 (advance-purchase tickets, groups of 20 or more)
Free admission: Junior high school students and younger, senior citizens aged 65 or older, and disabled persons with proper certification
Yearly pass: ¥2,500 (Adult Pass for people 20 years and older), ¥1,000 (H.T.P.)
Purchase locations: ATM Ticket Counter (Adult Pass can only be bought here), JR East "Midori-no-Madoguchi" ticket centers, View Plaza
Organizers:
Mito Arts Foundation
The Japan Foundation
The National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
The Asialink Centre of the University of Melbourne
Supported by:
Australian Embassy, Tokyo
Grants from:
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australia Japan Foundation
Australia Council for the Arts
Sponsors:
Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
The Joyo Bank, Ltd.
Cooperation:
Japan Air Lines (JAL)
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
SOUM Corporation
Curators:
Eriko Osaka, Chief Curator of Contemporary Art Center, ATM
Jason Smith, Curator of National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Profile of Artists and Works Presented
-- AUSTRALIA --
Fiona HALL (1953, Sydney)
'Dead in the Water' (1999)
'Scar Tissue' (2003)
Hall uses craft techniques to depict everyday objects, converting them through various viewpoints to produce esthetic works. One of her works consists of woven videotape, while the other is a 3-D object.
Image (left): 'Dead in the Water' (1999), Courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Rosemary LAING (1959, Brisbane)
'groundspeed (Harrogate Flower) #9' (2001)
etc.
Laing's photographs of Victorian floral carpets spread out in a forest demonstrate both a fusion of nature and technology, and a rejection thereof.
Image (left): 'groundspeed #2' (2001)
Samuel NAMUNJDJA (1965, Arnhem Land)
'Gungura-wind dreaming' (2003)
etc.
Namunjdja's painting depicts wind in a poetic fashion, standing in contrast with the man-made world.
Image (left): 'Gungura - wind dreaming' (2003), Courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Susan NORRIE (1953, Sydney)
'Passenger' (2003)
A video installation.
Image (left): 'Passenger' (2003), Courtesy of the artist and Mori Gallery, Sydney
David ROSETZKY (1970, Melbourne)
'Weekender' (2001)
'Commune' (2003)
etc.
'Commune' is 3-D installation combining photography, while 'Weekender' is video work by Rosetzky demonstrating the failure of people's hearts coming together and the lack of communication between different cultures.
Image (left): 'Weekender' (2001), Courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Ricky SWALLOW (1974, San Remo)
'iMan prototypes' (2001)
'Model for Sunken Monument' (1999)
etc.
Using motifs suggestive of American culture, such as Macintosh computers or the Darth Vader figure from the Star Wars films, Swallow creates sculptures that comment the relationship between new values, life and the individual.
Image (left): 'Model for a Sunken Monument' (1999), Courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
-- JAPAN --
Kaoru MOTOMIYA (1963, Tokyo)
'metabolism' (2002)
Motomiya learned about problems facing rainforests while living in Australia, and she examines the link between those forests (representing raw materials) and paper (the finished product), as well as the relationship between the nature of Tasmania and Japan.
Image (left): 'metabolism' (2002), photo by Keizo Kioku, Courtesy of Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo
Tetsuya NAKAMURA (1968, Chiba)
'Premium Unit Series' (2003)
Nakamura's work focuses on the function of items used in contemporary life, and aims to imbue them with new value. He uses lacquering techniques to transform everyday objects, such as a bathtub or sink, into works of monumental art.
Image (left): 'Premium Unit Bath' (2003), photo by Katsuhiro Ichikawa, Courtesy of Wacoal Art Center, Tokyo
Taro SHINODA (1964, Tokyo)
'Personal Satellite Project 2004'
Shinoda's work creates a transformation of viewpoint that is generally unnoticed in daily life.
Image (left): 'Helicopter 1' (2003), Courtesy of Gallery SIDE2, Tokyo
TABAIMO (1975, Hyogo)
'Haunted House' (2003)
Through her unique illustrations, Tabaimo uses a discerning eye to reinterpret contemporary Japan. Her video work points out illogical situations that lurk in everyday scenes as seen through a window.
Image (left): 'Haunted House' (2003), Courtesy of Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo
Tadasu TAKAMINE (1968, Kagoshima)
'A Big Blow-Job' (2004)
Takamine creates a kind of primeval landscape in his installation through the use of light, words and 3-D objects. The Australian exhibition is scheduled to show his 'God Bless America' work.
Image (left): 'God Bless America' (2002)
Akira YAMAGUCHI (1969, Tokyo)
'Postmodern Silly Battle' 1999, 'Picture of Many People Making Something' (2001)
Yamaguchi's works are oil paintings created with traditional 'Yamato-e' techniques. Adopting a unique viewpoint and technique that combines the past and present, different times and places, and freely interchanging space, he depicts contemporary society ironically.
Image (left): 'Postmodern Silly Battle' (1999), photo by Kei Miyajima, Courtesy of Mizuma Art Gallery, Tokyo
Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM 2004
RELATED PROJECTS
Artist Relay Talks
1. Jan. 24 (Sat) 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Fiona HALL, David ROSETZKY, Susan NORRIE
Venue: Workshop room of the Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM
Tickets for the exhibition "Living Together is Easy" are valid for admission to the Artist Relay Talks.
2. Jan. 25 (Sun) 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Kaoru MOTOMIYA, Tetsuya NAKAMURA, Taro SHINODA, Tadasu TAKAMINE, Akira YAMAGUCHI
Venue: Workshop room of the Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM
Tickets for the exhibition "Living Together is Easy" are valid for admission to the Artist Relay Talks.
Workshop 'Metabolism'
This workshop offers an opportunity for participants to learn the traditional Japanese repair technique of "kintsugi," showing how it is used to repair actual objects.
Mar. 27 (Sat) 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Lecturer: Kaoru Motomiya
Venue: Workshop room of the Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM
Qualification: Senior high school students and older.
Fee: ¥1,000
Seating: 25 (accepted in the order of application)
Registration: Call Contemporary Art Center, ATM
TEL (029)227-8120 Sorry, filled
High School Students' Week (Feb. 17 to Mar. 21)
During this special period, high school students and anyone else aged 15 to 18 are free to enter the gallery.
At the ticket window, they are requested to prove their age with some sort of identification.
During the exhibition period, a coffee bar in the workshop area will be open to all from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Weekend Gallery Talks
On weekends, enhance your appreciation of the exhibition through a guided tour by an ATM docent,
called a "CAC Gallery Talker." Descriptions will be given in Japanese.
If you wish to attend, assemble at the gallery entrance before the times indicated. Each talks lasts approximately 40 minutes.
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays from Feb. 7 (Sat) to Mar. 28 (Sun), 2004
Times: 2:30-3:10 p.m.
Note: Unforeseen circumstances may force the cancellation of the Weekend Gallery Talks on certain days.
Gallery Talk with Babysitting Service
Date: Feb. 29 (sun), 2004
Capacity: 15 children only (accepted in order of reservation)
Babysitting fee: ¥500
Application deadline: Feb. 10 (Tue), 2004
Contact: Contact Moriyama or Higuchi at ATM Contemporary Art Center, (029)227-8120
CRITERIUM
CRITERIUM 57 Eri Morimoto
Period: Jan. 24 (Sat) to Mar. 28 (Sun), 2004
Venue: Room 9, Art Tower Mito Contemporary Art Gallery
Admission: Included in entrance fee for "Living Together is Easy" exhibition
Curator: Tsukasa Mori (Contemporary Art Center, ATM)
"Criterium" is the Latin for criterion, a standard or benchmark against which things are measured.
The series aims to introduce the new works of mainly young artists.
ATM Contemporary Art Gallery's
Pass for Adults
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| © Hiroko Ichihara
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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 ¥2,500 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.
Translated by Paul T. Narum
(official names of exhibitions and artworks are furnished by the artists and planners themselves)
Copyright ©2004 MITO ARTS FOUNDATION. All Rights Reserved. Created by TK.
Mail to: webstaff@arttowermito.or.jp
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