Catalogue published on the occasion of Koki Tanaka's exhibition for the Japan Pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013.

Includes artist statement, interviews with the artist and artist biography.

'In recent years Koki Tanaka has employed a variety of methods to produce works on the relationality that arises between human beings. In Tanaka's works, it is possible to see the process of people who have the same occupation, who employ a common language that only they understand, clashing with each other. As well as this, there are what Tanaka calls “collective acts”: experiments of various sorts which still lack a fixed destination. On 11 March 2011, Japan experienced a massive earthquake and tsunami, as well as an accident at a nuclear power plant. The situation remains unresolved two years on. Tanaka attempts to address this issue in a uniquely abstract fashion. For example, a haircut carried out by 9 hairdressers at the same time (second attempt) (2010) was shot before the earthquake. But to those of us now in Japan, who have gone through such a definitive experience, it seems like a metaphor for working together to build a post-quake society. Thus the tasks and acts which Tanaka sets up can be read in different ways according to the viewer's personal context. With the quality of allowing many different readings, Tanaka's works provides, at the geographically distant Venice venue, platform for the overlaying of yet more, new readings.'- from the back cover.

Alternative title

The Japan Pavilion at the 55th International Art Exhibition: Venice Biennale

Access level

Onsite

Location code
MON.TAK6
Language

English

Publication/Creation date

2013

No of pages

255

ISBN / ISSN

9788897503231

No of copies

1

Content type

catalogue, 

artist monograph

Koki Tanaka Abstract Specking Sharing Uncertainty And Collective Acts_Cover
Share
Citation
Rights statement

In Copyright

What does this mean?

This item is covered by one or more copyrights. It is available for research only or use within Hong Kong’s fair dealing rules. Please do not copy, re-use or reproduce this item without the permission of the copyright holder.

Koki Tanaka: Abstract Specking Sharing Uncertainty And Collective Acts