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ART
April 2, 2015
ART | Bunkamura 25th Anniversary Special Project: Trompe-l'œil II
ART | Illusionistic Art Explores the Evolving World of Contemporary Art
Bunkamura 25th Anniversary Special Exhibition: Illusionistic Art II
The Bunkamura 25th Anniversary Special Exhibition: Illusionistic Art II features a diverse collection of "illusionistic art" spanning from contemporary works to the late Renaissance. The exhibition is being held at Bunkamura The Museum in Shibuya until Sunday, October 5.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Challenging visual preconceptions, these enigmatic works invite viewers beyond the surface of illusion.
Throughout art history, there has been a lineage of "illusionistic art" employing devices that deceive the viewer's eye. Following the 2009 exhibition that brought together illusionistic art from across time and geography, this current show places particular emphasis on contemporary art, which continues to evolve in diverse ways.
The exhibition begins with a prologue showcasing classical masterpieces, followed by a presentation of contemporary illusionistic art, categorized by its visual trickery.
Vic Muniz, known for his unique concept of recreating the reverse sides of famous paintings to deceive the viewer's eye, creates an illusion of a painting being placed backward by depicting the reverse of Van Gogh's masterpiece "Starry Night." Also on display is Muniz's photographic work "Self-Portrait (I Can't Stop Crying) after L.B.A.," created from colorful plastic toys.
Vic Muniz, "Self-Portrait (I Can't Stop Crying) after L.B.A.," 2003, Die Distraction Print, Taguchi Art Collection, ©Vik Muniz
Patrick Hughes, "Hiroshige and Hughes," 2013, Oil on assembled board, Artist's collection, ©Patrick Hughes, Courtesy Flowers Gallery, London / New York
Kazuhiro Ohshiro, "Fender Deluxe Reverb Amp 2," 2009, Acrylic, putty on canvas, Courtesy the artist and Galerie Perrotin
Shigeo Fukuda, "Underground Piano," 1984, Wood, metal, acrylic, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
Evan Penny, "Stretched Woman #2," 2011, Silicone, pigment, hair, aluminum ©Evan Penny, Courtesy Sperone Westwater, NY
The exhibition also features "anamorphic metamorphosis," a technique that systematically distorts images, exemplified by René Magritte's "The Red Model," which skillfully links the similar yet dissimilar elements of shoes and feet, highlighting their incongruity through resemblance. This category allows viewers to witness impossible scenes that are captivating precisely because of their imbalance.
The "Illusionistic Art" exhibition challenges our preconceptions and invites viewers into a world of illusion. Both adults and children are sure to be "fooled" and step into a wondrous realm.
Bunkamura 25th Anniversary Special Exhibition: Illusionistic Art II
Dates: Saturday, August 9 – Sunday, October 5 (Closed Monday, September 8)
Hours: 10:00 – 19:00 (Fridays and Saturdays until 21:00)
Venue: Bunkamura The Museum
2-24-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial)
Admission: Adults ¥1500, University/High School Students ¥1000, Junior High/Elementary School Students ¥700
Tour: Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Wednesday, October 15, 2014 – Sunday, December 28, 2014
Nagoya City Art Museum, Saturday, January 10, 2015 – Sunday, March 22, 2015