Programs

03a

Main Program

Tomoko Konoike
Musashino BLACK KITE
Main Program

2021
Approx. W24 x H10m Water-based paint, Crayon on Cowskin
Collection of Kadokawa Culture Promotion Foundation

[Date]
May 10 (Wed) – 28 (Sun), 10:00-18:00
*Part of the early viewing exhibition program
*Open from 10:00-20:00 on Fridays, Saturdays
*Closed on Tuesdays
May 27 (Sat) 10:00-22:00, 28 (Sun) 10:00-18:00
[Place]
The National Art Center, Tokyo
[Participation fee]
Free
Tomoko Konoike seeks to cause a strong change in the awareness of art, which is a closed system of expression for human beings, and has attempted to return to the beginning of art and reconsider human creation.Since prehistoric times, humans have hunted animals for food, dressed them in skins, and made offerings to the gods. “The skins of animals that were torn apart by knives were now tanned and odorless, so clean. It is something that has been used to survive,” says Konoike.For Tomoko Konoike, creating art with skin is an expression of such primitive relationships, and at the same time, it can be said to be a reminder of human intervention and violence against nature. Musashino BLACK KITE, flapping its wings in the atrium, reminds us of the relationship between humans and animals/nature. These works are made using skins that were destined to be discarded as useless scraps under capitalism. It also conveys that nature exists beyond human activity and is not meant for commercialization. The black kite, which has changed its color and shape depending on the rain, wind and sunlight, will remind the viewer that nature changes with time.

ARTISTS

Tomoko Konoike

Tomoko Konoike continues to question the fundamentals of art through a variety of media including painting, sculpture, and performance, as well as site-specific expressions realized through travel.
Recent solo exhibitions include Fundamental Violence (2016), Kanagawa Prefectural Hall, The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma / Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Art Encouragement Prize; Fur Story (2018), Leeds Arts University; Hunter Gatherer (2018), Akita Museum of Modern Art, Japan; Chukagari (2020), Artizon Museum / Mainichi Art Prize; Birth of Miru (2022), Takamatsu City Museum of Art.
Group exhibitions include Temporal Turn (2016), Spencer Museum of Art / University of Kansas Museum of Natural History; Japan-Spirits of Nature (2017), Nordic Akbar Museum of Art; ECHOES FROM THE PAST (2018), Sinka Art Museum; Story-makers (2022), Japanese Cultural Centre Sydney. Her publications include Animal Words and picture books (Hatori Shoten).