We haven’t entirely pinned down if it’s the colors, shapes or the material itself, but Aiko Hachisuka’s soft sculptures made out of silk-screened clothes have really caught our attention. With her work currently being exhibited at Eleven Rivington in New York [through the end of this week – June 14th], it’s about time we introduce you to Aiko!
Artist Background
Los Angeles based artist, Aiko Hachisuka was born in 1974 in Nagoya, Japan. She received her BFA from Ringling School of Art and Design in FL in 1996 and her MFA from California Institute of Art in 1999. But it wasn’t until 2007, that she produced her first notable work with clothes. Her 80x53x38in. sculpture, entitled “Permanent Occupant,” was built from the base of a couch and incorporated recycled clothing and other fabrics to evoke the imprint left by life on common furniture. She has since perfected her technique, moving in a more abstract direction, which is apparent in the works of this solo show.
Solo Show and Sculptural Process
While Aiko has participated in many group shows throughout the past several years – New York, Houston, L.A. – this current exhibition at Eleven Rivington, is the first (of what’s sure to be many) solo shows for the artist. Featured in this show, are 5 of the artist’s famous soft sculptures, as well as a selection of her works on paper. Created over the last three years, these soft sculptures [made of worn clothing] have become Aiko’s signature pieces.
The basis of her sculptural medium remains old clothes [often worn by herself at one point], but she currently incorporates a silkscreen technique, printing various patterns and colors onto fabric. These pieces are then padded with foam and handsewn to each other, creating a unique composition. These common materials, removed from their original use, seem almost disguised from afar, molding into the compact nature of Aiko’s sculptures. As approached, however, subtleties of a shirt sleeve or pant leg act as reminders of the sculpture’s origin.
Remember RED, the portrait artists that works in unique and unusual mediums? Last year we blogged about her incredible portrait of Zhang Yimous using 750 pairs of socks. And surely we’ve shared with you her inspiring works with coffee at least once. Somehow, we are continually surprised by her talent…and patience!
Hong Yi (RED) never seems to run out of ideas, giving new dimensions to portraits. Her recent work on Aung San Suu Kyi’s portrait, the Burmese Opposition’s politician and 21-year political prisoner, is outstanding. She used 2000 white flowers, dyed in different shades of red to pay tribute to Daw Suu’s bravery.
Japanese artist and first fog sculpturist, Fujiko Nakaya returns to the forefront of the art world with her latest fog installation in San Francisco at the Exploratorium (museum of science, art and human perception).
Beginning last month in April and continuing through September 2013, this 150-foot-long pedestrian bridge will emerge participants in a multi-sensorial experience.
FOG BRIDGE
In honor of Exploratorium’s reopening, the architecture and design curator, Henry Urbach, invited Fujiko Nakaya to create one of her famous fog installations across the pedestrian bridge located between Piers 15 and 17. High pressure pumped water enshrouds pedestrians with fog during ten minutes every half hour. The mechanism is programmed to take into account real-time weather so to adapt the production of fog to wind or rain.
Nakaya is mainly fascinated by the extend to which fog has an impact on one’s perceptions, obscuring sight and thus, heightening other senses. The artist is convinced, “if you have even one little experience with fog, you start to see things differently”.
SHAPING NATURE
There is something of a Demiurge posture in the works of this artist, who has completed over 50 fog installations (view examples of Nakaya’s past works here ). Her ability to shape nature through these fantasy-like fog sculptures/installations, creates spaces of synesthesia. As people are invited to wander through the misty landscapes, they become truly immersed in the work that she has created.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
A Family Affair
Playing with water and weather is a contagious compulsion in the Nakaya family. Borned in Japan in 1933, Fujiko is the daughter of Ukichiro Nakaya, the first credited inventor of artificial snowflakes as well as a talented ink wash painter. In line with her father’s achievements, Fujiko Nakaya pioneered video art in Japan and was the first to explore the path of new technologies in landscape art.
The First Fog “Sculpture”
Nakaya first became notable for using man-made fog as an art medium in the 1970s. She participated in the design of the Pepsi Pavillion as part of the EAT (Experiments in Art and Technology). With the help of Los Angeles based engineer, Thomas Mee’s chemical-based artificial fog experimentation, Nakaya created a vast atmospheric structure outside of the building.
Keep an eye on the Fog Lady, Fujiko Nakaya! Fog Bridge is the first one of seven projects she currently has going on in five different countries.
If you happen to be in London between now and the Janurary 12th, check out Isa Genzken’s exhibition at Hauser and Wirth… and send us a postcard. If you are slightly less fortunate, you can view her works via the handy dandy internet.
While Genzken has produced a room full of eye-catching and thought-provoking installations for this exhibition, one particular piece seems to be capturing the most attention.
Nefertiti, Mona and Isa
This work, “Untitled,” consists of eight plastered busts of the iconic, Nefertiti – a depiction of feminine beauty, each “disguised” with a pair of sunglasses. Below the statues of Nefertiti sits framed replicated portraits of the iconic Mona Lisa, collaged together with an image of the artist herself.
Is it Genzken’s intent to mock iconic beauty, modernize it or highlight it? While we have our opinion, Genzken intentionally creates works that make the viewer question and speculate, ‘There is nothing worse in art than – you see it and you know it…that’s a certainty I don’t like.”
It’s always refreshing to see art being made out of unique materials, and in this case it’s old tax documents. Artist Nava Lubelski works in a variety of media, often times exploring the notion of destruction and reconstruction. Why do you really need to hold on to those pesky old tax receipts anyways?
Installation Art is the “fun” of the art world, it’s always an experience. Here’s some of the latest from around the globe in Installation Art:
Cutlery Fish at Heddon Street in London, By Ian McChesney. This suspended installation is in an area known for it’s restaurants and is made out of 1,000 forks.
This installation is made from dangling objects and light, so simple yet so amazing. By Rashad Alakbarov.
Don’t trip over the giant pharmaceuticals on the ground. Pill Spill by Beverly Fishman, made out of glass.
“If it were not for art, I would have killed myself a long time ago.” – Yayoi Kusama
The art world is buzzing with talk of Damien Hirst and his spot retrospective, which we previuosly blogged about.
What the art world SHOULD be talking about is the retrospective for Yayoi Kusama, who also works with colors and spots, and does it beautifully and with purpose. Kusama’s whole reason for making has been to help her deal with her many pyschological issues since childhood. Her work often has themes that are based on psychosis and infinity and seem to have a hypnotic and obsessive quality. Throughout the artists career her work has ranged in a variety of media and includes paintings, sculpture, performance, and installation.
Yayoi Kusama was a famous artist in the 60′s in america, but was almost forgotten in the 70′s when she moved back to Japan to check into a psychiatric hospital where she still lives. Since then Kusama has had some of the highest auction prices for a living female artist (Woo!). Kusama is now 82 and will have a retrospective of 150 works in what are considered some of the most outstanding Art Musuems in the world. The Retrospective starts at Madrid’s Museo Reina Sofia, and will travel to The Tate, The Whitney, and Centre Pompidou in Paris.
The first month of the new year is over, time for February! It’s the month of love…or something. Ok whatever, here’s what’s happening with some art in Orlando!
From Robots to Warlocks – Sci-Fi and Fantasy Art in the 21st Century : 2/2, 6-9PM at The Orlando Museum of Art – A comprehensive look at art inspired by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Universes (how amazing does THAT sound?). Art, music, food, drinks, awesomeness. $10
Tree of Light Project: 2/2, 8-10pm at the Seaside Plaza – A sculptural interactive installation by Orlando artists Cole NeSmith and Josh Owen. The Tree of Light Project is a recipient of the United Arts of Central Florida grant, and part of ArtsFest 2012 that will be running all of February in Central Florida. $Free
Nude Nite: 2/9,10,11 from 6pm – 12am at the Church Street Exchange Building - Nude Nite is an annual juried art event that focuses on the beauty of the nude. This three day extravaganza will include paintings, photography, performance art, sculpture, and installation. $25
Collide*Scope: 2/13, 6:25pm at Urban Rethink – A new monthly happening. Each month a group of creative minds will be chosen and given a challenge, they will have one week to collaboratively come up with an awesomely creative presentation on the challenge topic. $Free
Maybe It’s Still All A Dream Closing Reception: 2/23 at twelve21 gallery – Did you miss our opening? Shame on you! Just kiddin’. You get a second chance to come hang out with us and see all of the amazing art. $Free
Replicated: Now at The Falcon- This already started in January, but will be ongoing through February. Replicated is a group art show celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film Blade runner (sweet). $Free
Celebrate nakedness! Nude Nite is an annual juried art event that focuses on the beauty of the nude. This three day extravaganza will include paintings, photography, performance art, sculpture, and installation.
This year Nude Nite Orlando will be held at the church street exchange building on February 9th, 10th, and 11th. You have three different nights to check out this titillating (yeah..said it) event.
Ever been so in love that you just want to be vacuum sealed in a plastic package with your partner? Me either, but this new series “Flesh Love” by Tokyo- based photographer Hal is interesting and beautiful in a really strange way. In Flesh Love, Hal photographs couples intermingled and tangled together in plastic wrap. The work kind of speaks for itself. Make sure to view the whole series on Hal’s website.
