To The Human Future - Flight From The Dark Side (English) / Contemporary Art Center, ATM

Contemporary Art Center/Gallery, ART TOWER MITO Mito Arts Foundation 1-6-8 Goken-cho, Mito-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 310-0063 Japan Click for transportation directions Phone: +81 29-227-8111 Facsimile: +81 29-227-8130 E-mail address: webstaff@arttowermito.or.jp

"To the Human Future - Flight from the Dark Side"
Feb. 25 (Sat) to May 7 (Sun), 2006
Closed Mondays

Michael Light pieces from "100 SUNS" Contemporary Art Center, ATM 2006 Photo: Tsuyoshi Saito	Do-Ho Suh "Paratrooper-III" 2006 Contemporary Art Center, ATM 2006 Photo: Tsuyoshi Saito

Not only have America's unilateralism and hegemony influenced the world in a visible manner, but they have also eroded the hearts of contemporary people worldwide, greatly affecting their values. Through the judgment standards of economic globalism, emphasis has been placed on how a small section of the world's population can accrue profit. Under such standards, little consideration is given to values apart from that of efficiency: to wit, human sincerity, reason, and human rights. However, such a situation also results from the control of information - something that was readily apparent domestically in the United States after the Iraq invasion, but certainly not limited to that.

While we always strive for peace, we also experience the difficulty of not being able to maintain an open heart toward coexistence with "others." In the midst of mounting anxiety about the direction of humankind, each of us is asked to view the diverse world and develop the power of judgment that will allow us to cull the true facts from the whirlpool of information, and to develop a spirit of generosity that will allow us to accept people of different stripes.

ATM's current exhibition explores the following theme: how far can human beings, who tend to fall into the "dark side" during this age of confusion, awaken to an understanding of "others" and a self-awareness of human dignity? It brings together press photos and images with carvings, sculptures, poetry and moral maxims, attempting to elicit our empathy.

Participating Artists

Magdalena Abakanowicz (Poland)
Philip-Lorca diCorcia (USA)
Anthony Gormley (UK)
Isao Hashimoto (Japan)
Ryuichi Hirokawa (Japan)
Michael Light (USA)
James Nachtwey (USA)
Hiromi Nagakura (Japan)
Shirin Neshat (Iran)
Yoko Ono (Japan)
W. Eugene Smith (USA)
Do-Ho Suh (South Korea)
Bill Viola (USA)

Overview of Exhibition

Name:	To the Human Future - Flight from the Dark Side
Dates:	Feb. 25 (Sat) to May 7 (Sun), 2006
Times:	9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (no entrance after 5:30 p.m.)
Closed:	Mondays
Venue:	Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito (ATM)

Admission:	¥800	General
	¥600	Advance Purchase Groups (20 or more)
	Free	Students through 9th grade Seniors 65 and older Persons with certified disabilities

Ticket purchase:

Ticket Counter, ATM Entrance Hall
JR East Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket windows
JR East View Plaza ticket offices

*One-year Free Pass: One-year passes are also available for purchase at the ATM Entrance Hall Ticket Counter. The H.T.P. (High-teen Pass) for young people aged 15 to 19 costs \1,000, and the Adult Pass for adults aged 20 to 64 can be bought for \2,500.

Organizer:	Mito Arts Foundation
Support:	Mito City Educational Committee NHK Mito Branch
Subsidy:	Japan Foundation Asian Cultural Council (ACC)
Co-sponsors:	Asahi Breweries, Ltd. Re-Tem Corporation
Cooperation:	Japan Air Lines (JAL) SOUM Corporation

Planning: Eriko Osaka (Chief curator, ATM Contemporary Art Center)

Participating Artists and Exhibited Works

Magdalena Abakanowicz "A Standing Figure on Bench," 1989

Magdalena Abakanowicz (Poland)

Born in Falenty, Poland in 1930, and now living in Warsaw. Graduated from the Warsaw Academy of Art in 1954, and began producing solid figures called "Abakan" in the 1960s. Received the Sao Paolo Biennale Grand Prize in 1965, and participated in the same event in 1978. Works exhibited at Polish Exhibition in the Venice Biennale of 1980. In 1991, toured Japan, including Art Tower Mito, with a large-scale retrospective exhibition. Has also submitted many works in exhibitions in the West. In 2005, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Sculpture Center in the United States.

Exhibited Work: "A Standing Figure on Bench" 1989 (bronze)

Philip-Lorca diCorcia (USA)

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1951, and now living in New York. After studying at the Boston Museum of Art's school, got an M.A. from Yale in 1979. Has captured attention as a new leader of photography since the late 1970s, having submitted works in many group and solo exhibitions. Put on a solo exhibition at the Photographers' Gallery in London in 1991. His solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London in 2003 then traveled around Europe, to such countries as France, Germany, Sweden, and Italy.

Exhibited works: 4 photographs from the "Heads" Series, 2001 (C-type print)

Antony Gormley (U.K.)

Born in the U.K. in 1950, and now living in London. Put on a solo exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London in 1981, after which he exhibited around Europe and the United States. Considered a representative British sculptor. In 1992, initiated the Field Series, in which countless small unglazed human figurines, made through public participation, are placed in a space, filling it up. After the project was demonstrated in the United States, Europe, and China, the "Asian Field" was put on at the Tokyo Municipal Jonan High School in 2004. His large-scale solo exhibition toured Japan in 1996.

Exhibited works: "Sublimate IV," "Fix," "Unform IV," 2004 (all three are glossy steel blocks)

Isao Hashimoto "1945-1998" 2003

Isao Hashimoto (Japan)

Born in Kumamoto, Japan, in 1959. After graduating from the Commerce Dept. of Meiji University, was employed in a bank for 17 years. In 2001, gave up his career, entering the Art Culture Dept. of the Figurative Art Division of Musashino Art University. In 2003, put on the "1945-1998" exhibition of maps of atomic bomb tests worldwide at his university. Also submitted works to the "Women's Scenery, World's Thunder" exhibit at the Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo, curated by Aomi Okabe.

Exhibited work: "1945-1998," 2003 (DVD/sound installation)

Ryuichi Hirokawa (Japan)

Born in Tianjin, China, in 1943, and now living in Tokyo. Graduated from Waseda University (Tokyo) in 1967, then moved to Israel. Since the 1970s, has covered stories around the world, focusing on the Middle East. Won the Yomiuri Photography Grand Prize in 1982. Won the Japan Journalists' Conference Special Prize for his "Battleground of Humans" in 1988. In 2003, won both the Japan Photograph Association Yearly Prize and the Domon Ken Award for his photograph reportage, "Palestine." In 2004, launched the photojournalism magazine, "Days Japan."

Exhibited works: Around 10 black-and-white photographs

Michael Light 100SUNS/OAK, 2003
Courtesy of Frehrking + Wiesehofer Gallery, Cologne

Michael Light (USA)

Born in Florida in 1963, and now living in San Francisco. Studied photography at the San Francisco Art Institute. In 1999 published the "Full Moon" photography collection redigesting photographs taken by astronauts, having received permission from NASA; the book was translated into seven languages, and the exhibition of the photographs traveled around the world. Published "100 Suns" to great public response in 2003, redigesting photographs taken by the U.S. military to record A-bomb tests.

Exhibited works: 37 colored photographs selected from the "100 Suns" series.

James Nachtwey (USA)

Born in New York in 1948, and still living there. Studied political science and art history in college, and started studying photography independently in 1972. Began taking pictures of conflict areas around the world in 1981. Won the Robert Capa Gold Medal Award in 1983, putting him in the limelight. Has built a strong international reputation, having won the World Press Photography Grand Prix twice, in 1993 and 1995.

Exhibited works: Around 10 black-and-white and color photographs.

Hiromi Nagakura (Japan)

Born in 1952 in Kushiro, Hokkaido, and now living in Tokyo. After graduating from the law school at Doshisha University (Kyoto), joined the Jiji News Agency Photography Division, but left in 1980 to become a freelance photojournalist. Has continued to take pictures of people living in "hot spots" worldwide, including Africa, the Middle East, Central America, and Southeast Asia. Won the New Face Award from the Japan Photography Association in 1983, and the 12th Domon Ken Award in 1993. In 1998, won the Sankei Children's Publications Culture Award.

Exhibited work: 7 photographs from "From Battleground to Human" (color prints and gelatin silver prints)

Shirin Neshat (Iran)

Born in Iran in 1957, and now living in New York. Moved to the United States in 1974, when in her teens. Iran's Islamic Revolution of 1979 occurred during her stay in America, making it unable for her to return to Iran until 1990. Participated in the Transcultural Exhibition at the Venice Biennale of 1995. Produced video works in 1996. Won awards at the 1999 Venice Biennale, capturing international attention. Won an award at the Kwangju Biennale of 2000, in Korea. In 2005, won the Hiroshima Peace Prize, and put on a large-scale solo exhibition at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art.

Exhibited work: "Fervor," 2000 (black-and-white video/sound installation)

Yoko Ono "Endangered Species(2319-2322)" 1992
Courtesy of Kirishima Open-Air Museum

Yoko Ono (Japan)

Born in 1933 in Tokyo, and now living in New York. Moved to New York in 1953, and studied composition and poetry at Sarah Lawrence University. In the 1960s, participated in the Fluxus movement. Moved to London in 1966, where she met John Lennon, whom she later married. In 1971, put on the "THIS IS NOT HERE" solo exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art in New York. In 1980, released "Double Fantasy" jointly with John Lennon, who was shot that December. Since then, has put on solo exhibitions at the Whitney Art Museum in New York and the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, and has been invited to participate in numerous international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, the Sydney Biennale, and the Yokohama Triennale of Contemporary Art. In 2000, her "YES YOKO ONO" exhibition toured the U.S. after first being held at the Japan Society in New York: it then moved to the Art Tower Mito in 2003, after which it toured Japan.

Exhibited work: "Endangered Species 2319-2322," 1992 (installation)

W. Eugene Smith (USA)

Born in Kansas in 1918, and died in 1978. Started taking photographs at age 14, and got some photos printed in regional newspapers in 1934. Won a scholarship to go to Notre Dame University, but dropped out. Studied photography at the New York Institute of Photography, then served as a correspondent in World War II, where he was wounded badly in the Battle of Okinawa. Submitted many superb photographs as a photojournalist to "Life" magazine in the 1940s and 1950s. Visited Japan in 1961 at the invitation of Hitachi, Ltd. In 1971, organized a large-scale retrospective, "Let Truth Be the Prejudice," at the Jewish Museum in New York; the show later toured Japan. Moved to Minamata, Japan, to document children deformed by the "Minamata Disease," which was really mercury poisoning from eating fish that had swum in industrial effluent from Chisso Corporation. Received the Robert Capa Gold Medal Award. In 1977, started teaching at the University of Arizona, but died the following year from the aftereffects of wounds incurred in 1974 when beaten up by thugs from the chemical company in Minamata while he was covering a demonstration.

Exhibited works: "The Walk to Paradise Garden," 1946 "Country Doctor," 1948 (photograph set) "Merciful Man, Schweitzer," 1954 (all gelatin silver prints)

DO-HO SUH "Paratrooper-II" 2005
In collaboration with The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia
Courtesy of the Artist and Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York.

Do-Ho Suh (South Korea)

Born in Seoul, Korea, in 1962, and now living in New York. After graduating from Seoul National University and fulfilling mandatory service in the South Korean military, relocated to the United States to study at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), from where he went to graduate school at Yale University to study sculpture. Submitted works for the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale of 2001, garnering international acclaim. Has put on solo exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens in London, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Art Sonje Center in Seoul. His works are in the collection of such museums as the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the Whitney Museum, and the Guggenheim Museum of Art in New York. Put on a solo exhibition at Hermes Ginza in Tokyo in 2005, and submitted works to the "The Elegance of Silence: Contemporary Art from East Asia" exhibition at the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo in the same year.

Exhibited work: "Paratrooper III," 2006 (installation)

Bill Viola (USA)

Born in New York in 1951, and now living in Los Angeles. Studied painting and electronic music at Syracuse University, where he encountered video. Since the 1970s, started making video works. Lived in Japan for 18 months, studying Japanese culture and the latest video technology. Has been invited to participate in exhibitions worldwide, and has established a solid reputation as a video artist.

Exhibited work: "Surrender," 2001 (video installation)

Related Events

Opening Talk
Come hear a gallery talk by participating artists Do-Ho Suh, Isao Hashimoto and Michael Light. An interpreter will be on hand.
Date/time: Feb. 25 (Sat), 2006, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Venue: Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Fee: Included in the admission fee to the exhibition.

Curator Talk
Eriko Osaka, the planner of the exhibition, will give a talk.
Date/time: March 11 (Sat), 2006, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Venue: Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Fee: Included in the admission fee to the exhibition.

Special Talk
Kayoko Ikeda, activist and author of "If the World Were a Village with 100 People," will give a lecture at ATM. Born in Tokyo in 1948, Ikeda is a translator of German literature, and a researcher into orally transmitted culture. She has translated William Styron's "Sophie's Choice" and Victor Frankl's "Night and Fog, New Version" into Japanese.
Date/time: Mar. 25 (Sat), 2006, 2:00-3:30 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.)
Venue: Conference Hall, Art Tower Mito
Capacity: 80 (advance telephone reservations required)
Fee: ¥500 (¥300 for high school students and younger)
Reservations: Call (029) 225-3555 between 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., starting on Feb. 25 (Sat) at 9:30 a.m.

Screening: "War Photographer"
April 8 (Sat), 2006
1:30-3:10 p.m. (doors open at 1:00 p.m.)
Screening: "War Photographer" (2001), a 96-minute documentary about participating artist James Nachtwey, directed and produced by Christian Frei (Switzerland). Nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards of 2002. Shown in English with Japanese subtitles.
Venue: ACM Theatre, Art Tower Mito
Fee: ¥500 (no reservations accepted; tickets only available the same day)
Free for high-school students and younger; bring an ID for verification.

CRITERIUM
"Criterium" is the Latin for "criterion" (originally a Greek word). The series aims to introduce the new works of mostly young artists.

CRITERIUM 66: Yosuke Kobashi
Dates: Feb. 25 (Sat) to Mar.26 (Sun), 2006
Venue: Room 9, Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM
Planning coordinator: Kenji Kubota (curator, Contemporary Art Center, ATM)
Fee: Included in the price of admission to the current exhibition

CRITERIUM 67: Naoki Honjo
Dates: Apr. 1 (Sat) to May 7 (Sun), 2006
Venue: Room 9, Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM
Planning coordinator: Muzuki Takahashi (curator, Contemporary Art Center, ATM)
Fee: Included in the price of admission to the current exhibition

High-schooler Week 2006
Period: March 15 (Wed) to April 16 (Sun), 2006
Every year, the High-schooler Week is held at ATM's Contemporary Art Gallery for high-school students and others of the same age. During the month-long period, a cafe and meeting space will be set up within the gallery, and made available for anyone to use. They will be run primarily by high school and college students.
Target group: High-school students of any age, and anyone else aged 15 to 18. Please bring a student ID to prove your status, or another form of photograph ID to prove your age.

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 ¥2,500 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.

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Translated by Paul T. Narum
(official names of exhibitions and artworks are furnished by the artists and planners themselves)

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