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Satoru Tamura "Maebashi Machine"
Maebashi Galleria Gallery 2
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Artists
Satoru Tamura
MAKI Gallery is pleased to present Maebashi Machine, a solo show by Japanese artist Tamura Satoru, at Maebashi Galleria Gallery 2. The exhibition draws from three separate bodies of work—the Machine series, in which roller chains arranged to resemble various numbers, letters, and symbols rotate endlessly; the Point of Contact series, where light bulbs flicker on and off, occasionally releasing bright sparks in the air; and the Parachute series, created in collaboration with book artist Yasushi Cho.
Despite having no personal connection to the city of Maebashi, Tamura constructed the monumental Maebashi Machine specifically for this exhibition. The characters “前 (Mae)” and “橋 (Bashi)” are outlined with greased roller chains on two giant sheets of metal. These chains and bearings, and the motors used to drive them, are all industrial materials with distinct, real-life purposes. However, Maebashi Machine eschews any apparent usefulness, instead using the mechanical parts to forge a perpetually rotating “前橋 (Maebashi).”
Faced with this absurd contraption, one may wonder why the artist decided to make such a thing. Yet this strangely mesmerizing sight speaks to Tamura’s artistic raison d'etre, what he calls the “desire to break free from the meanings, frameworks, and functions that all materials and forms inherently carry.” By taking one of humanity’s most vital resources—electricity—to create “useless” objects, the artist subtly pokes fun at contemporary society’s obsession with productivity and efficiency. We welcome you to engage with Tamura’s whimsical works, driven by an irreverent creative vision and colored by touches of cynical humor.
Despite having no personal connection to the city of Maebashi, Tamura constructed the monumental Maebashi Machine specifically for this exhibition. The characters “前 (Mae)” and “橋 (Bashi)” are outlined with greased roller chains on two giant sheets of metal. These chains and bearings, and the motors used to drive them, are all industrial materials with distinct, real-life purposes. However, Maebashi Machine eschews any apparent usefulness, instead using the mechanical parts to forge a perpetually rotating “前橋 (Maebashi).”
Faced with this absurd contraption, one may wonder why the artist decided to make such a thing. Yet this strangely mesmerizing sight speaks to Tamura’s artistic raison d'etre, what he calls the “desire to break free from the meanings, frameworks, and functions that all materials and forms inherently carry.” By taking one of humanity’s most vital resources—electricity—to create “useless” objects, the artist subtly pokes fun at contemporary society’s obsession with productivity and efficiency. We welcome you to engage with Tamura’s whimsical works, driven by an irreverent creative vision and colored by touches of cynical humor.
Schedule | Feb 8 (Sat) 2025-Mar 9 (Sun) 2025 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://www.makigallery.com/exhibitions/11824/ | ||||
| Venue | Maebashi Galleria Gallery 2 https://www.towndevelop.jp/ | ||||
| Location | 1F Maebashi Galleria, 5-9-1 Chiyoda-machi, Maebashi-shi, Gunma 371-0022 | ||||
| Access | 5 minute walk from Chuo-maebashi Station on the Jomo Electric Railway line, 15 minute walk from the North exit of Maebashi Station on the JR Ryomo line. | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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