ART│Haroon Mirza: Japan Debut Exhibition
ART│Winner of the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Art Prize
Haroon Mirza: First Solo Exhibition in Japan
Haroon Mirza, one of the most exciting emerging artists in the UK art scene today, will hold his first solo exhibition in Japan from Friday, January 18th to Saturday, February 23rd at SCAI THE BATHHOUSE in Yanaka, Taito-ku.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Installations Evoking Architectural Soundscapes
Born in the UK in 1977, Haroon Mirza has garnered significant acclaim both domestically and internationally, including winning the Silver Lion at the 2011 Venice Biennale. He is widely regarded as a leading artist in the British art scene of the 2010s.
The impetus for this exhibition came when Haroon Mirza was awarded the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Art Prize. Established in 2008, this prize offers UK-based artists who have never held a solo exhibition in Japan the opportunity to do so, along with a £5,000 award.
Mirza, who prefers to be called a "composer" rather than a sound artist, creates works characterized by a composition that weaves together sound, objects, and space. He utilizes furniture, home appliances, antique everyday items, and past works by other artists, sometimes incorporating LED lights and video with electronic sounds to produce complex and profound installation pieces.
His installations invite contemplation on the relationship between hearing and sight within a space charged with a certain tension. They reflect our contemporary information-saturated society, where static visual spaces like print coexist with the dynamic auditory spaces emanating from electronic media such as television and radio, which increasingly dominate our lives.
Mirza's dedication to exploring sound, rather than melody or song, reflects his identity rooted in Pakistan and his upbringing within Islamic culture. His work presents architectural soundscapes infused with the diverse elements that surround him, including society, culture, history, and religion.
“Art doesn’t provide answers, it asks questions,” Mirza states. We are drawn to delve deeply into his artistic world, which is forging a new form of "appreciation" that transcends mere looking.
Haroon Mirza
Dates│January 18 (Fri) – February 23 (Sat) *Closed Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays
Hours│12:00 – 18:00
Venue│SCAI THE BATHHOUSE
6-1-23 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Kashiuyu Ato
Tel. 03-3821-1144