EXHIBITION

Koki Tanaka: Forms of time, the poiesis and the way

Tokyo, Tokyo, 09/03/2017 - 09/30/2017

2-30-6 Kamimeguro Meguroku

ABOUT

"Koki Tanaka is one of the artists receiving great attention, not just domestically, but internationally, for receiving Special Mention at the 55th Venice Biennale and Deutsche Bank Artist of the Year 2015, and is also regarded as a person who represents the contemporary art scene after the emergence of the term “relational aesthetics.” As is obvious for an important artist, a lot of critiques have already been generated on Tanaka’s artwork: in many cases, his artistic practices are summarized in the context of “from phenomenon to act, and to collective act.” Therefore, many might not understand the meaning of planning an exhibition of an artist whose reputation is already being solidified, by a young curator with little authority.

However, I have regarded Koki Tanaka as an artist who has written many interesting texts in which he discusses issues important for critique, along with the production of artwork. As an avid reader of Tanaka’s text, I have interpreted a series of his artworks from the viewpoint inherent in the artist himself through which I had a vague idea that there would be different ways of interpretation other than the preceding “from phenomenon to act, and to collective act.” In other words, I envisioned that Tanaka’s artwork might had been interpreted in ways different from his original purpose, and, fundamental but new issues would be depicted through rediscovering the problems and their solutions put forth by the artist himself.

Based on the above interest, in order to design this exhibition, I first deciphered Tanaka’s earliest artwork and enormous amount of texts. Based on that reading, I explicitly described the principle and attitude underlying his artistic activity. It was a journey to follow his path of production and thinking. By thinking back on a sequence of his artwork up until the present based on the point found by the description, the potential of the Tanaka’s artwork was maximally expanded in light of his original intention." - Curator, Sekai Kozuma 


For More Information

APT ARTISTS ON VIEW

Koki TANAKA

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