10 Things in Tokyo: June Round-Up

An exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum offers a rare opportunity to view choju giga, the medieval Japanese caricatures of frolicking animals, bringing together all four scrolls and five fragments, some of which are kept outside of Japan. “Masterpieces of Kosanji Temple” finishes on June 7.

Takashi Suzuki’s art practice is concerned with “how the photographic subject is perceived, [rather] than what the photographic subject actually is.” His ‘BAU’ series, for example, has a variety eye-catching compositions on a black background, produced on closer inspection from dish-washing sponges. “Form-Philia” is on display at IMA Concept Store until July 12.

Artist and author Hideki Nakazawa shares his latest exhibition with his long-time assistant, Nameko Shinsan. The joint exhibition, “N Dimension” will expand upon Nakazawa’s previous ‘Baka CG’ bitmap works from the early 1990s and the more recent ‘Anti-Anti-Aliasing’ series. Until June 21st at Tetoka gallery.

The Glasgow-born artist, musician and DJ Jim Lambie is known for his colorful sculptural installations made from everyday objects such as aluminum foil, mirrors, potato sacks, plastic bags, vinyl tape, and household paint. Evolving from a response to the psychology of space and color, his practice uses color in a way that is deeply rooted in color theory and specifically relates to the concept of synesthesia. See his work at Rat Hole Gallery until June 21.

The Nakamura Keith-Haring Collection, in Yamanashi Prefecture, reopens with an overview of the artist’s diverse expressions and engagements divided across the 6 sections: future primitive, art & fashion, HIV/AIDS + art activisim, children, Japanese culture and art history. The exhibition is laid out in the renewed spaces renovated by architect Atsushi Kitagawa. The collection display continues throughout the rest of this year.

Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2015 presents collections of short films from all over the globe. Programs are rounded up into thematic groups, such films for children, films about the Earth, and a special focus on the Ibaraki region. The festival runs from June 4 until the 14th in cinemas around the city.

Su Blackwell is a London-based artist who creates fairytale and myth-themed sculptures out of books. She crafts her sculptures by cutting out the pages of books, paying close attention to the words left on display, to give life to her imaginary realms through a breathtaking artistic process. Blackwell’s first exhibition in Asia displays 11 book sculptures, including new work, exploring the idea of “dwelling.” Until June 14 at Pola Museum Annex.

As well as the impressive Asia group show, “Time of Others,” the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo has on offer a retrospective of the career of fashion model Sayoko Yamaguchi. It’s described as “an archive of the icon herself and her unique ability to break through genres crossing east and west, overground and underground in her numerous collaborations and a new installation of work from some of the most influential, cutting edge creatives who have worked with her.” Until June 28th.

At Gallery Bauhaus, see Masato Okazaki‘s collection of silver gelatine prints produced in the coldest time of year in Hokkaido. In his ongoing travels through the winter landscapes, Okazaki removes all emotion and leaves “merely that which can not be expressed in words.” Until June 6.

The NTT ICC Inter Communication Center has recently updated its collection display for 2015, keeping some of their most popular new media art works on display as well as adding some new pieces. The ICC boasts one of the most comprehensive new media art collections in existence, as well as some of the best facilities in which to show them. For “Open Space 2015,” Japanese artists Sachiko M and Yoshihide Otomo (teaming up as Filament) occupy the venue’s anechoic (completely sound-proof) room.