Exhibition/event has ended.
Yoko Asakai "Contact"
Mujin-to Production
Finished
SHARE
Artists
Yoko Asakai
This exhibition is a continuation of Yoko Asakai’s previous exhibition touch held over the winter of 2021 – 2022. Two years after her last solo exhibition, which featured a series of works created during the state of emergency declared amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when movement and action were restricted, she will present a new video work, Distance, in which she continued to film furthermore on these years.
During the pandemic, “keeping distance from each other” was an important issue as part of infection control measures. To minimize contact with people, people were required to wear masks, avoid enclosed spaces, and ensure social distancing, which forced drastic changes in daily life.
These restrictions also affected a variety of events and occasions. Fireworks festivals across Japan were forced to cancel one after another, but fireworks remained popular as a summer tradition despite changes in the format and viewing style, such as “surprise fireworks festivals” where the date, time, and location were kept secret to avoid overcrowding, and handheld fireworks that can be easily enjoyed by individuals, once again gaining popularity.
Distance, the main work in this exhibition is a sequel to Bubble (2021) which was exhibited in the previous exhibition.
The two video works are taking themes on the phenomenon around the fireworks during the pandemic that emerged as a byproduct of social restrictions from different perspectives. Bubble left a strong impression on viewers with its depiction of a deserted city under a state of emergency, the view from a window, and people gathering in a park at night to enjoy handheld fireworks while wearing masks and keeping their distance. In the new work Distance, the distance between people and the crowds watching the fireworks is recorded as it changed during the period of self-restraint and the resumption of the fireworks festivals.
The “new normal” advocated during the pandemic created a situation that was reversed from the norm, with people feeling a strong need to maintain physical distance, while at the same time seeking emotional connection. While the title of the previous solo exhibition, touch, was given to a situation in which the touch of every day became scarce under the state of emergency declaration, the title of this exhibition, contact, focuses on physical contact and emotional connection.
During the pandemic, “keeping distance from each other” was an important issue as part of infection control measures. To minimize contact with people, people were required to wear masks, avoid enclosed spaces, and ensure social distancing, which forced drastic changes in daily life.
These restrictions also affected a variety of events and occasions. Fireworks festivals across Japan were forced to cancel one after another, but fireworks remained popular as a summer tradition despite changes in the format and viewing style, such as “surprise fireworks festivals” where the date, time, and location were kept secret to avoid overcrowding, and handheld fireworks that can be easily enjoyed by individuals, once again gaining popularity.
Distance, the main work in this exhibition is a sequel to Bubble (2021) which was exhibited in the previous exhibition.
The two video works are taking themes on the phenomenon around the fireworks during the pandemic that emerged as a byproduct of social restrictions from different perspectives. Bubble left a strong impression on viewers with its depiction of a deserted city under a state of emergency, the view from a window, and people gathering in a park at night to enjoy handheld fireworks while wearing masks and keeping their distance. In the new work Distance, the distance between people and the crowds watching the fireworks is recorded as it changed during the period of self-restraint and the resumption of the fireworks festivals.
The “new normal” advocated during the pandemic created a situation that was reversed from the norm, with people feeling a strong need to maintain physical distance, while at the same time seeking emotional connection. While the title of the previous solo exhibition, touch, was given to a situation in which the touch of every day became scarce under the state of emergency declaration, the title of this exhibition, contact, focuses on physical contact and emotional connection.
Schedule | Jun 1 (Sat) 2024-Jul 7 (Sun) 2024 Opening Hours Information
Opening Reception Jun 1 (Sat) 2024 17:00 - 19:00 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | Free | ||||
| Website | https://www.mujin-to.com/en/exhibition/contact/ | ||||
| Venue | Mujin-to Production http://www.mujin-to.com/index_e.htm | ||||
| Location | 5-10-5 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0022 | ||||
| Access | 8 minute walk from exit A3 at Kikukawa Station on the Toei Shinjuku line. 8minute walk from exit B2 at Sumiyoshi Station on the Hanzomon or Toei Shinjuku line. 12 minute walk from the South exit of Kinshicho Station on the JR Sobu line. | ||||
| Phone | 03-6458-8225 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it  |
Back to Articles
SHARE
No comments yet