Exhibitions - Past
[Statement]
I believe that the essence of the world lies in "relationships." When things come into being, there is always an encounter between one thing and another, a reaction occurs, and invisible connections intricately intertwine. Relationships connect countless things, and their reactions never cease. We cannot resist this flow. Currently, I am exploring the theme of "relationships" and creating "the Couple" series inspired by the limbs in Shunga prints. In 2013, when I was at a loss for words and expressions to describe relationships, I encountered Shunga prints. For some reason, the connection of those limbs leaped into my eyes as the form of invisible relationships. Since then, everything in this world has appeared to me as an entanglement of limbs.
The title of this exhibition is "Jibaku Dance." One day, the phrase "jibaku" came to mind, and it stuck with me. It made me realize that it's not just spirits that are bound by places and emotions; we, the living, are also bound. We are bound people. And we are self-bound, clinging to ourselves. Everything exists within the net brought about by "relationships." This world is a tangle of invisible connections and intersections. In such a world, humans live and die, beautifully and shamefully. I imagine the magnificent dance of humanity, tracing the rhythm of its struggles with lines, and connecting them with hands and feet. In that moment, what always strikes me as magnificent about humans is that, despite being entangled, the knots they form are beautiful.
In this exhibition, we will present new works centered around "Jibaku Dance." Additionally, due to the spread of the coronavirus, an exhibition scheduled for April was postponed. We will also exhibit drawings accumulated during that time.
Installation view
"The Gate of Jibaku - Live Artwork by the 'Drawing Until the End of the World' Drawing Series (From the ANAGRA Interview Article)
In 2020, the world was engulfed in fear due to COVID-19. It was a first-time experience for modern humans to collectively face such a situation globally. In Tokyo, on March 25, a request for non-essential activities to be refrained from was issued, followed by a state of emergency on April 7, resulting in the postponement of Shinichi Kaneko's solo exhibition "Jibaku Dance." It was during this time that I first imagined the end of the world and pondered what I would be doing then. It was envisioning myself drawing. Perhaps amidst the confusion, I would be drawing as part of my daily routine. That's probably all I could do, I imagined. I began drawing under the title "Drawing Until the End of the World" from March 26, and now, the series has exceeded 300 pieces.
I initially thought this series would conclude with this exhibition, but it seems like the atmosphere of the world has become murky again, making it difficult to end. I had contemplated presenting the "Drawing Until the End of the World" series at this exhibition but struggled with how to display such a large number of pieces. Each piece drawn during this unique time feels like it holds something within it, but it hasn't been long enough for those to become apparent. However, it is certain that all pieces of the "Drawing Until the End of the World" series are imbued with the current atmosphere of the world. They not only reflect my personal issues but also automatically encapsulate the current atmosphere and problems of the world. Therefore, I thought that these 300 pieces might stand as one work. Unsure if people would come to the exhibition during this period, I envisioned the venue as an atelier space and aimed to create within 10 days. I thought of combining the 300 paintings to create something resembling Rodin's "The Gates of Hell" and the model for Rodin's "The Gates of Heaven" by Ghiberti. As I express the entanglements of the present world, it's neither the Gates of Heaven nor the Gates of Hell but a gate of "Jibaku" erected in the present. I intend to create it live, imagining it as a fantasy gate formed by the entanglements of individuals and crowds, using humor and imagination as weapons against anxiety and despair. (July 31 - August 10)"
© KANEKO SHINICHI