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May 27, 2015
ART | Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo: "COSMIC TRAVELERS -Toward the Unknown-"
Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo
ART | COSMIC TRAVELERS - Toward the Unknown
Cosmic Travelers - Toward the Unknown
Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo, the art space located on the 7th floor of the Louis Vuitton Omotesando Building, will host its first group exhibition, and its first exhibition focusing on the contemporary Japanese art scene, "Cosmic Travelers - Toward the Unknown," from Saturday, January 21st to Sunday, May 6th.Works: ©Louis Vuitton / Jérémie Souteyrat Courtesy of Espace Louis Vuitton TokyoPortrait: ©Louis Vuitton / Tadamasa IguchiText by SUZUKI Fumihiko (OPENERS)
A Journey Created by Five Japanese Artists
Since its opening in January 2011, Espace Louis Vuitton Tokyo has held solo exhibitions by French artist Xavier Veilhan and American artist Alison Shoots. The third exhibition will be a group show featuring five contemporary Japanese artists.—One might expect to see the works of the five artists displayed separately in the venue, but that is not the case. This exhibition begins even before one reaches the art space on the 7th floor.
This is because upon entering the building on the 1st floor, which also houses the Louis Vuitton store, visitors are greeted by the animation "Anyura" by Masakatsu Takagi. According to Midori Nishizawa, the independent curator who organized this exhibition, this work guides light towards the art space as visitors ascend to the 7th floor via the elevator.
Upon arriving on the 7th floor and the elevator doors open, visitors will undoubtedly have a surprising experience. Ataru Sato's work "Yochō" (Omen) is displayed before them, immediately catching their eye. This piece, depicted with an image of a deity emerging from the Heavenly Rock Cave, effectively uses the elevator doors as the cave itself.
Visitors will realize that the space on the 1st floor, the elevator connecting it to the art space, and even the area that could be called the elevator hall, are all greedily utilized as devices to construct the exhibition. They will understand that the conventional grammar of art exhibitions is entirely absent here.
Visitors will realize that the space on the 1st floor, the elevator connecting it to the art space, and even the area that could be called the elevator hall, are all greedily utilized as devices to construct the exhibition. They will understand that the conventional grammar of art exhibitions is entirely absent here.
Ataru Sato, "Yochō" (2012). This work is unfinished. It will be completed through public production sessions on February 6th, 7th, and 8th, and in April.
As if to support this somewhat challenging stance, the exhibition continues with an unusually open space for an art venue, featuring Sato's work.
Noriyuki Haraguchi, "Triad" (2012)
Tomoko Shioyasu, "Flowing Sky" (2011)
Masakatsu Takagi, "Anyura" (2011-2012)
Surrounded by tall glass walls instead of white partitions, the art space is filled with natural light, seemingly expanding into the surrounding environment. Here, Noriyuki Haraguchi's large installation "Triad," made from industrial materials and occupying about half of the exhibition, blends in. Alongside it is Tomoko Shioyasu's exquisite paper cutting, "Flowing Sky," which evokes wind and sound. While the materials and expressions of both works are entirely different, they seem to incorporate this unique exhibition space as part of their creation.
In the center of the space, a completely dark room is sectioned off by a partition wall. Inside, Go Watanabe's CG movie "A Journey Around 'A Landscape'" is being screened. This work, which presents footage captured by 180 cameras moving over a distance of only about 10 cm for 25 minutes as a record of a journey, disrupts our everyday perception of the world.
Upon exiting the dark room at the end of the journey, eyes accustomed to the darkness will be overwhelmed by the intensity of the light filling the space. You will then notice that the exhibits you have seen so far take on a different character because of it.
Upon exiting the dark room at the end of the journey, eyes accustomed to the darkness will be overwhelmed by the intensity of the light filling the space. You will then notice that the exhibits you have seen so far take on a different character because of it.
Go Watanabe, "A Journey Around 'A Landscape'" (2011)
Indeed, this is an experience of a journey.
Physically, this may be a small exhibition, but it is brimming with the diverse expressions and discoveries that emerge from the collaboration of five artists, brought together in this open space, much like the experience of a journey.
COSMIC TRAVELERS - Toward the Unknown
5-7-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Louis Vuitton Omotesando Building 7F
Period | Saturday, January 21, 2012 - Sunday, May 6, 2012
Hours | 12:00 - 20:00
Phone | 03-5766-1094
Web |www.espacelouisvuittontokyo.com
Midori Nishizawa
Worked at Aki Gallery/Tokyo from 1982, and moved to New York to become the director of Aki Gallery New York in 1992. In 1994, she organized an exhibition featuring Robert Wilson's first large-scale installation in collaboration with the Paula Cooper Gallery. Since 1996, she has worked independently as a curator and dealer specializing in post-war Japanese art and Western art. In 2011, she curated the exhibition "Masked Portrait Part II" at the Marian Boesky Gallery in New York.
Worked at Aki Gallery/Tokyo from 1982, and moved to New York to become the director of Aki Gallery New York in 1992. In 1994, she organized an exhibition featuring Robert Wilson's first large-scale installation in collaboration with the Paula Cooper Gallery. Since 1996, she has worked independently as a curator and dealer specializing in post-war Japanese art and Western art. In 2011, she curated the exhibition "Masked Portrait Part II" at the Marian Boesky Gallery in New York.
Noriyuki Haraguchi
Born in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 1946. Graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, College of Art and Design, Nihon University. He began his career as an artist in the late 1960s and gained high acclaim when he was selected as the first Japanese artist to participate in "documenta 6," an international art exhibition held every four years in Kassel, Germany, in 1977. He subsequently participated in the "10th Paris Biennale" at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and held his first solo exhibition abroad at Galerie Alfred Schmela in Düsseldorf in 1978. In 2009, he held "Noriyuki Haraguchi: Society and Matter," a large-scale retrospective exhibition including new works, at BankART1929's Studio NYK in Yokohama, his first in Japan.
Born in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 1946. Graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, College of Art and Design, Nihon University. He began his career as an artist in the late 1960s and gained high acclaim when he was selected as the first Japanese artist to participate in "documenta 6," an international art exhibition held every four years in Kassel, Germany, in 1977. He subsequently participated in the "10th Paris Biennale" at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, and held his first solo exhibition abroad at Galerie Alfred Schmela in Düsseldorf in 1978. In 2009, he held "Noriyuki Haraguchi: Society and Matter," a large-scale retrospective exhibition including new works, at BankART1929's Studio NYK in Yokohama, his first in Japan.
Ataru Sato
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1986. Graduated from the Department of Information Design, Faculty of Art and Design, Kyoto University of Art and Design, with a specialization in Advanced Art. He began his artistic activities while still a student, holding his first solo exhibition "ATARU SATO: His Sea" at the Mear Gallery in New York in 2007, and participating in the exhibition "Dorodoro, Doron: Contemporary Art from Asia Exploring the Otherworld" at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art in 2009. In 2011, he participated in "YOKOHAMA TRIENNALE 2011: OUR MAGIC HOUR - How Far Can We Know the Universe?" (Yokohama Museum of Art, NYK Waterfront Building, Bank Art Studio NYK) and presented his first large-scale wall drawing.
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1986. Graduated from the Department of Information Design, Faculty of Art and Design, Kyoto University of Art and Design, with a specialization in Advanced Art. He began his artistic activities while still a student, holding his first solo exhibition "ATARU SATO: His Sea" at the Mear Gallery in New York in 2007, and participating in the exhibition "Dorodoro, Doron: Contemporary Art from Asia Exploring the Otherworld" at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art in 2009. In 2011, he participated in "YOKOHAMA TRIENNALE 2011: OUR MAGIC HOUR - How Far Can We Know the Universe?" (Yokohama Museum of Art, NYK Waterfront Building, Bank Art Studio NYK) and presented his first large-scale wall drawing.
Tomoko Shioyasu
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1981. Graduated from the Sculpture Department, Fine Arts Course, Faculty of Fine Arts, Kyoto City University of Arts. In 2004, she received the Origin Award at the Kyoto City University of Arts Graduation Exhibition, and in 2005, she won the Grand Prix at the 6th Spiral Independent Creators Festival. In 2008, she held a solo exhibition "Cutting Insights" at SCAI THE BATHHOUSE in Tokyo and received the 5th Goto Memorial Cultural Award for New Artists in the same year. She has also exhibited in group shows overseas.
Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1981. Graduated from the Sculpture Department, Fine Arts Course, Faculty of Fine Arts, Kyoto City University of Arts. In 2004, she received the Origin Award at the Kyoto City University of Arts Graduation Exhibition, and in 2005, she won the Grand Prix at the 6th Spiral Independent Creators Festival. In 2008, she held a solo exhibition "Cutting Insights" at SCAI THE BATHHOUSE in Tokyo and received the 5th Goto Memorial Cultural Award for New Artists in the same year. She has also exhibited in group shows overseas.
Masakatsu Takagi
Born in 1979. As a musician and filmmaker, he has been presenting unique works that fuse sound and visuals since 2001, engaging in diverse activities both domestically and internationally, including exhibitions at museums, concerts worldwide, and participation in film festivals. In 2001, he performed a live show as part of the closing event for the 7th Istanbul Biennial (Turkey), and in 2002, he embarked on a European live tour covering 8 countries and 18 cities. In 2010, he held his first piano solo tour "Ymene," performing in seven locations across Japan.
Born in 1979. As a musician and filmmaker, he has been presenting unique works that fuse sound and visuals since 2001, engaging in diverse activities both domestically and internationally, including exhibitions at museums, concerts worldwide, and participation in film festivals. In 2001, he performed a live show as part of the closing event for the 7th Istanbul Biennial (Turkey), and in 2002, he embarked on a European live tour covering 8 countries and 18 cities. In 2010, he held his first piano solo tour "Ymene," performing in seven locations across Japan.
Go Watanabe
Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1975. In 1999, while still a student, he co-founded "art space dot" in Nishikasugai District, Aichi Prefecture, with 13 members and began his artistic activities. After participating in the group exhibition "very very human" at the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art in 2005, he held a solo exhibition "Kyōmen" (Boundary Surface), which included works forming the basis of his current animation, at ARATANIURANO in 2007. He began to gain international attention with his participation in "Have You Eaten Yet? – 2007 Asian Art Biennial" at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (Taichung). In 2010, as part of the Aichi Triennale, he presented "Discovery of Contemporary Art VII: Go Watanabe – White Stories, Black Stories" in a solo exhibition at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art.
Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1975. In 1999, while still a student, he co-founded "art space dot" in Nishikasugai District, Aichi Prefecture, with 13 members and began his artistic activities. After participating in the group exhibition "very very human" at the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art in 2005, he held a solo exhibition "Kyōmen" (Boundary Surface), which included works forming the basis of his current animation, at ARATANIURANO in 2007. He began to gain international attention with his participation in "Have You Eaten Yet? – 2007 Asian Art Biennial" at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (Taichung). In 2010, as part of the Aichi Triennale, he presented "Discovery of Contemporary Art VII: Go Watanabe – White Stories, Black Stories" in a solo exhibition at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art.