—We who are born to be happy
The world today is drenched in conflict and division, from war to fighting closer to home, sparked by fear of things and others beyond our understanding. Traveling and meeting all sorts of people, talking with those whose views differ from our own, are ways for us to bridge such divisions and each find our own happiness, and encountering a safe haven and like-minded souls, and finding our true self, may well be the reason we were born into this world.
Featuring over 40 artists and artist units from across the globe, this exhibition contains works from the Taguchi Art Collection, one of Japan’s leading contemporary art collections, and the holdings of the Hirosaki Museum of Contemporary Art, plus a number of new works.
Mika Rottenberg, who opens portals from familiar spaces into alternative worlds; Tuan Andrew Nguyen, whose videos superimpose disturbing history on lyrical travelogue imagery; the rock cafe and works of Nara Yoshitomo offering a glimpse into a facet of Hirosaki’s past; Katayama Mari, who engages with the world via her body; and the title work by Shiota Chiharu, are joined by a project by Takayama Akira unfolding on the streets, in an exhibition that ponders the nature of living and happiness, through a diverse lineup ranging from painting and photography, to film and performances in lecture format.
The work of AES+F presented at the exhibition – The Feast of Trimalchio Arrival of the Golden Boat, 2010, c-print, diasec, 295 x 495 cm, from the Taguchi Art Collection.