A pair. Two non-uniform pieces, both of which do not stand on their own. An expression formed by supporting each other's existence by nestling close together.
galerie a will host woodworker Yosuke Urakami’s solo exhibition "Side by Side".
A piece composed of two objects will transform its atmosphere through changing the way they are placed.
The relationship of the pair changes its atmosphere through variation in their respective distance and placement.
Observe the endless play by Urakami’s work with your own eyes.
This will be the third Yosuke Urakami exhibition hosted by galerie a.
The dialogue with Urakami started with a pair of works titled "fiore" created in his "FACE TO FACE" exhibition, held last year.
Stack them. Switch their vertical positions. Place them side-by-side.
The theme of a pair standing “Side by Side” was decided through exploring the possibility of relationships changing depending on the way they are placed and having such “individual forms that do not stand alone” hold themselves up by supporting each other.
The work is completed not when it leaves the hand of the maker or when it reaches that of someone else. Rather, it reaches a new form of completion each time it is moved or repositioned by another.
Correct distance or positioning do not exist. The user can move the objects and create a form of piling they find suitable.
The contrast of colors and textures, and the extraction of organic forms, such as water droplets and shading,
were also inevitable aspects in Urakami’s the pursuit of “individual forms that do not stand alone”. Urakami’s figurative expression often begins with a sketch.
For this exhibition, he repeated his trial production with clay, which led to the expansion of a scenery with new forms.
Forms that do not stand alone nestle together and support each other. This is a group of works based on a theme that resonates with our society.
Endless Play
In Yosuke Urakami’s third solo exhibition at galerie à, works titled “One in a Pair” that come in different forms, colors, finishes and appearances, all of which are created with the image of two objects supporting each other’s existence.
As symbolically shown in the myth of Androgynus that people seek partners to make up for lost half and become complete bodies, divine providence to make up for incompleteness is undoubtedly one of the major motives that has moved people and society. In this sense, "One in a Pair" has been a prevalent theme in art since ancient times.
However, in this exhibition that has "One in a Pair" as its theme, the limitation is not to show the providence of complementarity, where two incomplete beings are connected to bring each other to completion. Rather, Urakami is giving the user the opportunity to touch the work and find a comfortable sense of overlapping and distance, and to bring back the "endless play" of "reaching a new form of completion through movement or repositioning by another" to everyday life.
In this regard, the two paired objects that Urakami repeatedly created as prototypes have the appeal of autonomous individuals that make viewers want to touch, move, and therefore “play” with them. The two paired, unique and autonomous objects are connected not by a passive complementary relationship of “We cannot be alone, so we’ll become a pair" as in Androgynos, but by a willful developmental relationship of "We become a pair because we can exist on our own", with the free sensitivity of the moment.
The historian Johann Huizinga once stated the essential significance of "play", stating that human beings are more "homo ludens (player)" than "homo faber (creator)", assuming that play did not come from culture, but culture was born from play. If we take this exhibition into consideration, the importance of the free and willful act of restoring humanity to everyday life through "endless play" using the medium of art can be understood.
This exhibition, titled “Side by Side”, is the result of two autonomous personalities, Nobuhiko Akiyoshi, who presides over galerie à, and Yosuke Uragami, the creator, trying to see together the new horizons of creative writing that are created through the collaborative work of dialogue. I feel that this dynamic symbolizes "endless play", which is typical of this place and seeks to create "one-step ahead expression" that leads to the future through dialogue, creation and presentation of works.
- Kei Gunji for Yosuke Urakami's solo exhibition “Side by Side”
After studying political science and law at university and graduate school, he currently works for a Danish furniture brand, where he is in charge of sales and visual merchandising. She is actively exposed to various types of art, and while holding events at the brand she works for that propose interior design by combining art and modern crafts with furniture, she also frequently posts reviews on Instagram. The uniqueness of his perspective and the passion he has for the subjects he is drawn to are amazing. At galerie a, we hope to bring in the commentary of those outside the gallery, allowing us to view the artists we introduce from multiple angles.
Yosuke Urakami Yosuke Urakami was born in the Goto Islands of Nagasaki Prefecture in 1985. He studied product design at Kuwasawa Design school. While in school,he accumulated about ten years of training at a furniture workshop within the city. With a desire to live in an area close to broad-leaf trees, he searched around the Tohoku Region in 2016, where he stopped by Zao Togatta. He interacted with kokeshi doll crafismen and other people of the region and finally made the decision to relocate there, While being face to face with trees, he makes woodworking creations that apply Japanese lacquer and gilt. He continues to present his work in all areas of Japan.
I gave up my production space to Yamasaki. It was my first time experiencing what one would call “running a residence”. When making a proposal to Yamasaki, he responded, “I’ll do it here. I get the feeling that it can only be done here." I found that interesting and was on board with the idea.
His days spent leisurely drawing continue. I left my space to him without even giving as much as a deadline.
He referred to the space as “Soft Jail”. Snuffing out the presence oozing from the space, his creative friends would gather there night after night.
A pair of objects that become independent by supporting each other.
The atmosphere created between individuals.
Opening Gallery
- Opening gallery
- You can see the work on the following schedule. We look forward to seeing you there.
* Appointment is not required.
- Open gallery
- 2023.12.8Fri - 12.17 Sun12:00 - 18:00
- Adress
- 東京都港区南青山6-9-2
日興兒玉パレス 104 - Tel
- 03 6450 6725
Credit
- Gallery Direction
- Nobuhiko Akiyoshi
- Contributors
-
Yusuke Shiki
Tomoyuki Washiyama
Roca Onishi
Masakado Nishibayashi
Kei Gunji
Ahraun Chambliss
Yuko Mori
Shoko Akiyoshi