In Graz, Austria there are presently two exhibitions open.
Graz, although it is Austria's second largest city, is not very well known in Japan, and rarely appears in holiday guides. However, the old town has been designated a World Heritage Site, and is a beautiful place with an East European atmosphere. Then two years ago, within those old streets a sudden, idiosyncratically-shaped art museum was born. With that, the whole of the town came to be noticed.
First, we will show you Graz town and Kunsthaus Graz, and then two of the artists of Edition Works, who are participating in the contemporary Japanese art exhibition, "Chikaku".
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| Kunsthaus in the old town Graz |
| Graz is about two and a half hours southwards from Vienna by express EC train, and is the provincial capital of the rich, green covered Steiermark. In 2003, when the World Heritage Site desiginated historical town had the chance of being a visionary center for contemporary art, with a design by Peter Cook and Peter Pakesch as curator, Kunsthaus Graz began. In a Renaissance period style, the old town with its East European atmosphere and this biomorphic building, and the imbalance, could have been split between approval and disapproval. But as Graz, with this futuristic, energetic art museum continues to come to life, its position seems assured. |
"Chikaku: Perception, Time and Memory in Japan", which is being held, is curated by Toshiharu Ito, and is a departure from the standard image of Japan as perceived overseas. It introduces how we can look within contemporary art, at the way in which we perceive time and the unique nature of Japan, not found in the West. (sponser: The Japan Foundation)
Artists included in the exhibition are, Masaki Fujihata, Rieko Hidaka, Takashi Ito, Emiko Kasahara, Tadashi Kawamata, Motohiko Odani, Yayoi Kusama, Hiroyuki Moriwaki, Daido Moriyama, Takuma Nakahira, Tetsuya Nakamura, Taro Okamoto, Yoko Ono, Yutaka Sone, Yoshihiro Suda, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Makoto Sei Watanabe, Masaaki Yamada and Miwa Yanagi.
In addition, for the exhibition, video work makes use of the exterior of the art museum and its lighting system. This work was part of a competition in Japan in which the Grand Prix was won by Kentaro Taki. This work, along with ten other artists' work, can be viewed at nighttime. ( Photo above and bottom left.) |
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| Yoshihiro Suda Rose |
Tetsuya Nakamura Premium Unit Bath etc |
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| Miwa Yanagi Girls in her Sand |
Hiroyuki Moriwaki Lake Awarereness 2005 |
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