Tokujin Yoshioka
Crystallize
October 3, 2013–January 19, 2014
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku
Tokyo 135-0022
Japan
The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is pleased to present TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA_Crystallize. Born in 1967, Tokujin Yoshioka is one of the most influential artists in the world, highly acclaimed for his unrestrained concepts and experimental creativity in a wide range of fields, including art, design, and architecture, which have won him high acclaim both at home and abroad. It explores the extraordinary fascination of his oeuvre.
As new works of this exhibition, the crystallized painting drawn by the vibration of music, Swan Lake, a sculpture of a crystallized flower, Rose, a chair constructed of seven strings, Spider’s thread and Rainbow Church built of crystal prisms and other pieces that have never been exhibited including his major works. This exhibition will be a vital opportunity to consider the relationship between nature and human beings, and to share the scene that he “crystallizes (= gives a form to)” it as his creation for the next generation.
Curator’s statement
At this moment, Tokujin Yoshioka is ready for his solo exhibition TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA_Crystallize at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo as an artist. He has consistently attached his mind to “the aura and the touch” rather than “the form,” for realizing the creation of “future standard” rather than “here-now.” As he created scenes from nature that lies in memory and shared it with people, it is no wonder he has arrived to an idea of “born from nature” in the recent years.
Crystallize Project inherits his approaches to the natural structure; while works are “born from nature,” it is his willpower that determines the moment of accomplishment of the crystallized paintings, the sculptures and the photograph. In this respect, the theme “crystallize” fits well for this solo exhibition as it enhances the meaning of “crystallizing one’s idea.” Thus, his works are a kind of new vocabulary for describing nature (also in the sense of the fundamental character of things). The question “what can creativity / design do?” raised by Yoshioka when the Great East Japan Earthquake dramatically changed both humanity and nature suggested the usage of this new vocabulary to create a space filled with extraordinary light, his Rainbow church, as a space for all to share.
This approximately 2,000-square-meter exhibition space is divided into three zones, 1) art installations, 2) his portfolio-video and famous two chairs as Honey-pop and PANE chair, and 3) design projects from 1989 to 2014, which include his early works like “Silicon hat” and “Ring bag” for Issey Miyake.
This solo exhibition is intended to show Yoshioka in a new light. Here we do not simply retrace the last quarter century but provide a space where visitors experience the transformation of Yoshioka’s creation.
–Tomoe Moriyama
(Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo)
Artist statement
Born from nature
Nature provides us astonishiment that is beyond our imagination. We may be shaken by its power, be struck with awe and praise the inscrutable beauty simultaneously. What exactly are these feeling? Why can nature move our hearts? And how do we sense it? I think the answer to these questions lies in the mechanism of life inscribed in human, which is outside the reach of memory or senses. Life of human is also given from nature, which evolved from the harmony of the myriad of chances and necessity. That is why it feels to me that there are the mechanism of unifying the connection between human and nature within our lives. Nature may not actively produce “beauty,” but it is filled with energy to create it. I infused the exhibition tile “Crystallize” with meaning of “creating works from crystallizing the energy of nature.” Works of crystal take their forms as if power of nature animates them and an architecture formed by light composes beautiful pieces of poem. Resonating with life, energy of nature appears in the works of art. Forms of works generated from nature go beyond our imagination. They take their own figures by reacting with nature and its hidden energy that move our heart. This is the liberation from the concept of formation and techniques. And there exists my answer to the future.
–Tokujin Yoshioka
Curated by Tomoe Moriyama (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo)
Organized by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo / Nikkei Inc.
In collaboration with TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA INC.
Supported by Hitachi Systems, Ltd. / MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO / ISSEY MIYAKE INC. / Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. / TOYO KITCHEN & LIVING Co., Ltd. / SEIKO NEXTAGE CO., LTD. / Yamagiwa Corporation etc
With the cooperation of MAXRAY INC. / Yamaha Corporation / Yamaha Music Japan Co., Ltd / ASAHI GLASS CO., LTD. / Spiber Inc. / TOLI Corporation / Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd. / amana salto inc. / NIPPURA Co., Ltd. / Seibu & Sogo / NEC Display Solutions, Ltd. / Pi Photonics, Inc. / S.C.ALLIANCE Inc. Media Entertainment Co. / Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha, Ltd. / KDDI CORPORATION / ASAHI-SHUZO SAKE BREWING CO.,LTD. etc.
Exhibition catalogue:
TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA_Crystallize
English/Japanese
Published by Seigensha Art Publishing, Inc.
ISBN978-4-86152-416-5
Press contact:
Kumiko Ohara
k-ohara [at] mot-art.jp / T +81 (0) 3 5245 1134 / F +81 (0) 3 5245 1141
