Period
20th September, 200119th October, 2001
openning reception, 20th September, 2001 19pm
artist talk, 22th September, 2001
place
Kunstbuero, Kunsthalle 8, Future Garden Schadekgasse iwienj
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The information technology revolution overwhelmed the world
and is spread broadly. Due to this, we can get enormous sources
of information from any country in one second. Nowadays, it is
common for anyone to have a virtual address in cyber space.
There, anything is possible while sitting in your living room.
Shopping, studying, investing, making new friends or even
meeting a lover, under the name of e-business.
The consequences of such a flood of superficial information make
us misunderstand that we can get any information. Can we really?
For example, what can Japanese know about Vienna? Vienna
coffee, Sacher torte, the city of classic music... Nothing, almost. I
can ask the same question about Tokyo to Europeans. What is the
difference between Vienna and Tokyo? The only thing we both
know is that people in Europe and Japan must be very different.
Even though the globalization progressed, we still have physical,
geographical and cultural differences. It is sometimes difficult to
know the cultural and habitual differences of other countries,
even though this kind of information is very important to
communicate with foreigners.
The exhibition "What's the difference between...?" will examine
some aspects of Japan through the art pieces, dealing with every
day life created by young Japanese artists. People who may
expect specific Tokioish or Japanese kind of works to this show
will be disappointed. The pieces in the exhibition are all dealing
with familiar objects to both Japanese and Europeans, from the
old days or from your closet or living room. Those works are
originated in the artist's own domestic spheres, every day lives.
All of the artists in this show were born in the 1960's to the 70's.
They have grown up in the so called "post war era" of high
economic growth in Japan. During that time, consumption was
taken as a virtue and their parents worked really hard for a "Japan
Corporation". They saw the bubble burst and a collapse of the
myth of Japanese economic growth as they become adults. For
the sake of such an experience the total collapse of their values
changed everything. The fact that they have grown up in
materialistic prosperity has made them cynical or apathetic about
politics and the economy and even their own future. What they
are interested in are the things or relationships surrounding them.
Although economy is still stagnant, Japan is peaceful and affluent.
In such an environment, the young people only pay attention to
the familiar matters in everyday life. They are ecstatic about their
hobby or fashion and seem to have adopted a principle of living
only for the pleasure of the moment.
This trend is seen in the artist's exhibition "What's the difference
between...?", applying their art to the familiar objects and involve
the audience. The art has risen from a specific cultural and
historic background, but the works can be understood
everywhere. Because the works evoke the feelings of joy,
nostalgia, peace of mind, excitement, universal emotions of
human beings. The title questions what people's stereotyped
images towards specific countries are like, with Japan as an
example. Information Technology and the wave of globalization
are making these stereotyped images stronger. This exhibition
dissolves those images of Japan because the artists themselves
are Japanese and live in Japan. At the same time there is not
enough consciousness in Japan about the own country in relation
to other countries. The title "What's the difference between...?" is
a paradox. You probably can't distinguish those works are made in
Japan. This exhibition also questions West's ethnocentrism in art
world. "It's a small world after all," but is it really? (hitomi hasegawa)
works
Is This Daidai-iro pattern of Plovers this Daidai-iro pattern of Plovers?
ENG
