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Essence of the Snow Country
We are proud to present “Essence of the Snow Country”. For the first time in China, the exhibition brings together the work of 11 contemporary artists and several pieces of designed furniture from the island of Hokkaido – Japan’s 40th parallel and most northern prefecture.
Separated from the ‘mainland’ of Japan by the Tsugaru Strait, Hokkaido has it’s own unique culture (in the Ainu – Hokkaido’s indigenous people), it’s own geography, climate and ecology. The Tsugaru Strait is a major zoogeographical boundary –the animals in Hokkaido are related to Northern Asian species, whereas those on Honshu to the south are related to Southern Asian species. In an area comprising a fifth of Japan’s landmass, only 5% of its population lives there. It is a place of great natural harmony as well as contradictions within the context of Japan as a whole.
The practices of these 11 contemporary artists are diverse as one might expect – ranging across performance, sculpture, mixed media wallworks and installation. However, the uniting factor – the essence – of the work of all the artists, is born of ‘place’. Hokkaido (this ‘Other Japan’ of vast wilderness areas, teaming wildlife, snow-peaked mountains, frozen seas and bubbling hot springs in Siberian winters) is the unseen hand at work.
Undercurrent themes in the show relate to ‘sustainability’ and co-existence with nature. The artists collectively put on a show of unexpected, often surreal and poignant combinations of the natural and the synthetic/technical – wood, milk, video, antiseptic, steel, ink, drums, balloons; the materials list of the works on display is a statement in itself.
In the fuelled hypopolis that is Shanghai, we hope you find “Essence of The Snow Country” refreshing.
Opening Reception: 2009/06/20 16:00 – 20:00
*At the opening reception, live performance will be shown by Matsuri Taro and Kiyoshi Takahashi, also light meal, snack from Hokkaido will be served.
Artists: Masao Okabe, Satoshi Hata, Akihiro Kuroda, Kineta Kunimatsu, Matsuri Taro, Kiyoshi Takahashi, Ikuko Imamura, Hiroshi Takeda, Nanako Kashimi, Mikio Taka, Megumi Morimoto, Nobuyuki Senba
Furniture provider: Kishinan, Furniture design workshop santaro, Takumi Kohgei CO.,LTD, Interior Hokusho Kobo Inc., Conde House CO.,LTD
Duration:2009/06/20 – 2009/07/19 13:00-18:00 (Close on Mon)
Venues:M50 Creative Garden, Vanguard Gallery
上海莫干山路50号 – 4号楼A座204、6号楼1F、18号楼1F (3 venues)
204-A Bldg.4, Bldg.6 1F, Bldg.18 1F – 50 Moganshan Rd, 200060 Shanghai
Map: Google Map
