ART│The Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art presents 'A History of Expression on the Streets and Observation - After Kōgen-gaku'.
ART│The Art Found on the Streets by Observers
The Exhibition 'A History of Expression on Streets and Observation - After Kōgen-gaku' at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
The exhibition 'A History of Expression on Streets and Observation - After Kōgen-gaku,' showcasing creative works discovered on the streets by "observers" from pre-war times to the present, is being held at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art until Sunday, April 7.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
New Series by Shimomichi Motoyuki, Who Conducted Research in Hiroshima, Also Unveiled
In 1923, in the immediate aftermath of the Great Kanto Earthquake, Kon Wajiro, a researcher of private homes and an architect, along with Yoshida Kenkichi, who would later become a prominent stage artist, turned their attention to the streets and people of Tokyo. They began an investigation into daily life from various angles, a practice they called 'Kōgen-gaku' (the study of present conditions).
This unique research was carried on by others, such as the 'Street Observation Society' founded in 1986 by architect Terunobu Fujimori and avant-garde artist Genpei Akasegawa, who found amusement in familiar environments, and the 'Strange Japanese Travelogue' by editor Ryoichi Tsuzuki. Today, diverse activities continue, observing and documenting street phenomena in fields like art and architecture.
This exhibition reintroduces what they have discovered, while also focusing on how the acts of observation and discovery, through various approaches, constitute expression. Displaying everything from the customs of the Taisho era to peculiar modern landscapes, it poses the profound question of "what is expression?" to both the observer and the observed, prompting a contemplation of the nature of art.
Furthermore, Shimomichi Motoyuki, known for his 'Tsunagu Mono' (Things That Connect) series, which explores landscapes created by people's ingenuity and traces, and his research into "things like bridges" across Japan, conducted research in Hiroshima specifically for this exhibition. A new series created from this research will also be presented.
Additionally, a variety of related events are scheduled. On Saturday, February 16, a talk will be held between Shinro Ohtake, a painter, and Ryoichi Tsuzuki, an editor, who share a close friendship. On Saturday, March 30, the architectural unit Atelier Bow-Wow, active in a wide range of fields including architecture and design, will give a lecture discussing their own works, focusing on the pieces exhibited.
Masterpieces by unknown creators, born one after another in the midst of changing times, and street masterpieces by masters of observation. We invite you to savor this art, which is all the more enjoyable for its close connection to people's lives.
'A History of Expression on Streets and Observation - After Kōgen-gaku'
Period: Saturday, January 26 – Sunday, April 7 (Closed Mondays, except Monday, February 11, which will be open, with Tuesday, February 12, closed)
Hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (Until 19:00 from Tuesday, March 26 to Friday, April 5)
Venue: Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
1-1 Hijiyama Park, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City
Tel. 082-264-1121
Admission: General ¥1000, University Students ¥700, High School Students ¥500 (Free for junior high and elementary school students, and those aged 65 and over)
Shinro Ohtake x Ryoichi Tsuzuki Talk
Date: Saturday, February 16
Time: 14:00 – 15:30
Venue: Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, B1F Museum Studio
Capacity: 130 people (Numbered tickets distributed at the reception from 10:00 on the day of the event)
Atelier Bow-Wow Lecture
Date: Saturday, March 30
Time: 14:00 – 15:30
Venue: Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, B1F Museum Studio
Capacity: 130 people (Numbered tickets distributed at the reception from 10:00 on the day of the event)
Logs Gallery 'Nōminsha' (Farmer's Vehicle) Test Run
Date: Sunday, April 7
Time: 14:00 – 15:30
Venue: Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Service Yard
Free participation, no advance registration required
Curator's Gallery Talk
Date: Saturday, March 2
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
No advance registration required