Promenade in Asia: Cute and After Kitsch

DURATION: 2001-08-10 ~ 2001-10-21
OPENING: 2001-08-10 18:00-PM
VENUE: Art Tower MContemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
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In cooperation with Shiseido Gallery, Art Tower Mito is pleased to present an exhibition simultaneously treating four different themes, each from a different part of Asia (China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan). The exhibition focuses on works by the younger generation of East Asians, revolving around the key word of "cute." With the relentless advance of economic development in recent years, people`s lifestyles have become more uniform. Particularly, the countries of East Asia, lying in close geographical proximity, are gradually coming to resemble one another. Although Japan used to look upon its neighbors as "near, but far" countries, it would perhaps be better now to call them "near, and near." The people of East Asia in the current era can be said to share the following perception in common: they are all happy in the present moment, thanks to economic prosperity, but at the same time they are vaguely anxious about what the future has in store. That leads us to the theme of the exhibition: we have chosen the term of "cute" to describe the ambiguous feeling (happiness combined with anxiety) held by many Asians today. We are not using "cute" merely in the sense of being charming, lovely, or sickeningly sweet, but also to mean the fervent desire of artists to impart their works with the evanescent feeling of being happy "right now and here" -- a feeling that may be lost at any moment. Altogether the works of nine artists will be introduced. RELATED EVENTS 1. "Promenade" Workshops During the "Promenade in Asia -- CUTE" Exhibition, two workshops will be held on the theme "Promenade." 1) "Odekake" Workshop by Wakako Kawakami Just think how much more cheerful the town would look if everyone would just take more colorful bags with them! "Odekake Bag" is Wakako Kawakami`s most important work ("odekake" means "going outside" in Japanese). Date: August 26 Time: 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Lecturer: Wakako Kawakami (artist) (2) "Karasu-ban-ya" Workshop by Toru Koyamada A pre-project workshop for the exhibition "Beautiful Life?" to be held in January 2002. In the workshop, participants will stroll around the town collecting junk thrown away on the street, just like crows do when they collect shiny things. Each participant will then make an "objet d`art" by arranging the things he or she retrieved on a board, thereby producing a "karasu-ban" (crow board). Although the things brought together are not related at all inherently, each participant has a special memory or story attributed to each of them. Through the workshop, participants are given a chance to view everyday things and their towns in a different perspective. Dates: September 15, 16 Lecturer: Toru Koyamada (artist) In cooperation with: Asahi Breweries, Ltd. Coodinator: Kenji Kubota (curator, Contemporary Art Center) 2. "Drowsy Talk" by Wakako Kawakami A casual talk show designed for people who want to immerse themselves in art works and directly listen to Kawakami talk about her works. The talk gives the audience the chance to get away from their busy lives, relax, and talk freely about art with the artist. 1) Talk show Dates: Aug. 19, Sept. 30, and Oct. 6, 2001 Time: 2:00-5:00 p.m. Lecturer: Wakako Kawakami 2) Dialogue Date: September 9, 2001 Panelists: Wakako Kawakami, Toshihiro Asai 3. Saturday Gallery Talks During the period of the exhibition, CAC Gallery Talker gives a gallery talk on Saturdays. Dates: Aug. 25, Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and Oct. 6, 13, 20, 2001 Time: 2:30-3:10 p.m. 4. "Art Tower Talking Tour" Mito and Vicinity Learning Cooperative Projective Program Dates: October 2, 7, 11 Organized by: The executive committee of Mito and Vicinity Learning Cooperative Projective Program Supervisor: Board of Educator, Mito City / Art Tower Mito Lecturer: Toshihiro Asai (Curator, Contemporary Art Center, ATM) 5. A Series of Lectures "Museums to Enjoy on your journey: East Asia" Dates: September 26, October 3, 10, 17 Venue: Mito International Center & Art Tower Mito Organized by: Mito International Exchange Program Association Project Cooperation: Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito Lectures: Yoichi Maki, Hiroshi Iso, Michio Goto, Toshihiro Asai