At NANZUKA 2G, a gallery in Shibuya PARCO, artist Haroshi, known for his sculptures and installations made from discarded skateboard decks, will present his new solo exhibition "HAROSHI FREE HYDRANT CO" from Friday, August 21 to Sunday, September 13, 2020.

Haroshi's new solo exhibition "HAROSHI FREE HYDRANT CO" is being held at NANZUKA 2G, a gallery in Shibuya PARCO. The exhibition features bronze installations inspired by fire hydrants. For skateboarders, ollieing over a fire hydrant, which stands about 80 centimeters tall, is considered a significant achievement. Haroshi, himself an avid skater, recalls being captivated by fire hydrants during his first trip to the US about 20 years ago, and even receiving encouragement from a police officer who watched him from his car.

The installation on display expresses Haroshi's memories and his everyday affection for the objects around him. Haroshi explains, "I've traveled to many cities around the world. Most cities have fire hydrants, and whether they were old and rusty, covered in graffiti, or brand new, each one was unique and wonderful. One day, I realized they were always watching over us from street corners, yet they couldn't go anywhere. When I saw them seemingly bound by chains, I even felt a little sorry for them. I thought that if I ever made a fire hydrant, I would make one that could go anywhere in the world, a free fire hydrant."

This goes beyond mere material reuse or recycling; it represents a series of activities deeply rooted in the artist's own spirit and values. Haroshi also stated about the exhibition, "'FREE HYDRANT CO' was born to liberate them from their purpose of extinguishing fires for us and to grant them freedom. I am very excited to see where they will go and what kind of lives they will lead."'Liberation' can be considered a key theme for Haroshi, who uses discarded materials in his work.

HAROSHI FREE HYDRANT CO
Venue | NANZUKA 2G (Shibuya PARCO 2F)
Address | 15-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Dates | Friday, August 21, 2020 – Sunday, September 13, 2020
Hours | 11:00 – 21:00 (Last admission 30 minutes before closing; closes at 18:00 on the final day)