PRESS RELEASE

2021.09.02

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

Christian Marclay Translating
November 20 (Sat) – February 23 (Sun), 2022

It may seem like a contradiction, but I'm interested in sound not just for how it sounds, butalso for how it looks.
Christian Marclay, THE WIRE, Issue 195, May 2000

The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo is pleased to present the first large-scale museum exhibition in
Japan of the acclaimed artist Christian Marclay, whose innovative practice lies at the crossroads of art andmusic.
Christian Marclay (b. 1955) began experimenting with sound in performances using turntables during thelate 1970s in New York, and has been an important figure in the avant-garde music scene ever since.
Focusing on sound as visual information and on how music is represented, objectified and commodified
in modern society, he is recognized as one of the most popular and influential artists who connect
contemporary art with music. Marclay works in performance, collage, installation, photography, painting
and video, often repurposing a wide range of found media including LP records, CDs, comics, movies,
and photographs.

Christian Marclay Translating is the first large-scalesolo exhibition of the artist's work in a Japanesemuseum and aims to introduce audiences to his
diverse and eclectic practice. Sampling his oeuvre, it
includes early works, influenced by conceptual art andpunk music, large-scale installations built fromsamples of image and sound information, and more
recent works that reflect upon the anxieties
permeating our contemporary world.

1 Recycled Records, 1981
2 Untitled (from the series 'Imaginary
collaged vinyl records
Records'), 1992
30.5 cm diameter
altered record album cover 31.1 cm x 31.1 cm
Collection of the artist
Photo: Steven Probert© Christian Marclay. Courtesy© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper
Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.
Gallery, New York.

Marclay Translating...
This exhibition employs the term “Translating” in reference to Marclay's unique approach that attempts to findan equivalence between the visual and auditory experience and to decipher the world by using one sense foranother.

Contact

Museum: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Public Relations Mihoko Nakajima / Chiako Kudo E-MAIL: mot-pr@mot-art.jp
TEL: +81-3-5245-1134
URL: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en* All Programs are subject to change.

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PRESS RELEASE
Christian Marclay Translating
Born in California and raised in Geneva, Marclay grew up traveling between the
different linguistic and cultural spheres of Switzerland and the United States, anexperience that informed his decision to become an artist: “I didn't trust
language that much and I was more interested in other types ofcommunication, like visual language or music, things that rely on different signs
or perceptions."*.
3 Actions: Froosh Sploosh Wooosh Sskuusshh Splat Blortch (No.2) , 2014
screen print and acrylic on canvas
222.2 ㎝ x 302.5 cm© Christian Marclay. Photo © White Cube (George Darrell)

Marclay's technique of sampling, evident in many of his works, entails extracting and repurposing existing
images and sounds, and can be considered an act of “translation” from one realm to the other, offering analternative to language. Whether using the materiality of recorded sound to create images, as in his celebrated
series of photograms, or translating image back into sound, as with the creation of “graphic scores” in which
images from our day-to-day environment are given over to musicians as scores from which to create music,
Marclay’s practice exists at the intersection of these two cultural forms. The exhibition will also include works
that feature onomatopoeia, appropriated from manga comics originally published in Japan and translated into
English, such as Manga Scroll (2010) which is a
vocal “graphic score”. Shifting back and forth
between sound and vision, everyday objects
and art, information and matter, as well as
different cultures, Marclay's practice explores
the creative possibilities and contradictions
inherent in translation. With a keen eye (andear) and understated humor, he draws attention
to the sensations and perceptions we take for
granted while revealing the precariousness of 4 Untitled, 2004
5 Ephemera: A Musical Score (detail), 2009
photogram
From a set of 28 folios. Produced and publishedhuman communication.
* Jan Estep, “Words and Music: Interview with Christian Marclay,”

New Art Examiner, Sept./Oct. 2001, pp. 78-83.

© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula
Cooper Gallery, New York.

by mfc-michèle didier, Paris /Brussels© Christian Marclay & by mfc-michèle didier.
Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

Translating Marclay...
Evolving with the passage of time, Marclay's work is 'translated' by the viewer and/or
the listener into a myriad of open-ended experiences. His early masterpiece Record
Without a Cover (1985), for example, is an LP record without any protective
packaging which allows for damage from shipping, storing, and playing the vinyl to
become part of recording.
During the exhibition, a public programme of events will feature performances ofMarclay’s graphic scores by Japanese musicians.

6 Untitled from Graffiti Composition,1996-2002
detail from portfolio of 150 prints© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

Contact

Museum: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Public Relations Mihoko Nakajima / Chiako Kudo E-MAIL: mot-pr@mot-art.jp
TEL: +81-3-5245-1134
URL: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en* All Programs are subject to change.

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Christian Marclay Translating

Highlights
The first major exhibition at a Japanese museum of the most significant artist working today at theintersection of art and music.
The crossover between sight and hearing is a theme
that has fascinated many artists past and present. In
the words of a Nineteenth Century critic: “all art aspires
towards the condition of music.” Christian Marclay,
who initially gained recognition in the music scene, has
explored the inextricable relationship between the two
spheres through numerous notable works, and hasreceived significant acclaim in the field ofcontemporary art with exhibitions at major museums 7 Recycling Circle, 2005
8 Continental (from the series 'Body
Mix'), 1991
around the world. This is the first large-scale solo video installation with soundPhoto: Osamu Watanabe
2 record covers and cotton thread
exhibition held at a Japanese museum by the artist.
© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Gallery
54.6 ㎝ x 33 cm
Koyanagi, Tokyo.

Photo: Steven Probert© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula
Cooper Gallery, New York.

Music, Art, Comics and Film… A Means of Expression Through Sampling
Since the 1970s, Christian Marclay has pioneered
techniques of sampling and collage. Visitors are invited
to enjoy a vast selection of works spanning the artist’s
career which demonstrate how he translates and remixes the existing world of music, art, manga, andmovies, as well as graffiti found on the street into
compelling works of art.
9 Scream (Orange and Blue Shaking), 201910 Face (Fear), 2020
color woodcut
collage on paper 30.2 ㎝×30.3 cm
220.1 ㎝ x 121.5 cm© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Gallery© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper
Koyanagi, Tokyo.
Gallery, New York.

Intersections Between Sound and Image Experienced Through Large-Scale Installations
Marclay's large-scale installations offer viewers the previously unknown
experience of “seeing sound / listening to images.” Installations will
include Marclay’s masterpiece Video Quartet (2002), an audio-visualcomposition made from sampled film clips and shown on four contiguousvideo screens, and Surround Sounds (2014-2015), a symphonic maelstromof animated onomatopoeias cut out from comic books andchoreographed to suggests the acoustic properties of each word.
11 Surround Sounds, 2014-2015
video installation
Photo: Ben Westoby© Christian Marclay. Courtesy White Cube, London, andPaula Cooper Gallery, New York.

Contact

Museum: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Public Relations Mihoko Nakajima / Chiako Kudo E-MAIL: mot-pr@mot-art.jp
TEL: +81-3-5245-1134
URL: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en* All Programs are subject to change.

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PRESS RELEASE
Christian Marclay Translating

Artist Profile
Christian Marclay was born in California, USA in 1955, and was raised in Geneva, Switzerland. He received his
Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, and continued his studies at Cooper
Union in New York. Long based in Manhattan, in recent years he has been living in London. In 1979 Marclay
presented his first performance using turntables, and quickly gained recognition as an important figure inexperimental music for his pioneering approach to records as interactive musical instruments. In addition to
improvisational performances, since the 1980s he has been known for his artworks exploring the connections
between sight and sound.
At the 54th Venice Biennale (2011), Marclay was recognized as the best artist in the official exhibition, winning
the Golden Lion for his work The Clock (2010). He has presented solo exhibitions at major museums throughout
the world such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art(Los Angeles, California, USA, 2019), Barcelona Museum ofContemporary Art (Barcelona, Spain, 2019), Aargauer
Kunsthaus (Aarau, Switzerland, 2015), Whitney Museum of
American Art (New York, USA, 2010), in addition toreleasing several albums such as Record Without a Cover(1985), More Encores (1988) and Records (1997). He has
performed and recorded with numerous musicians
including John Zorn, Elliott Sharp, Sonic Youth, Fred Frith,
Steve Beresford, Okkyung Lee, and Otomo Yoshihide.
12 Christian Marclay Photo by The Daily Eye

Exhibition Catalogue
The first Japanese publication on Christian Marclay, the catalogue features images of exhibited works, artist
interviews, conversations and essays by key commentators such as Tone Yasunao, David Toop, and Douglas
Kahn, as well as newly written texts by Otomo Yoshihide, Nakagawa Katsushi (researcher in music and soundstudies) and Ryan Holmberg (art and comics historian). The catalogue will include a timeline, archival materials
and a comprehensive selection of references to Marclay’s artistic activities in Japan.

EventsMultiple events will be held over the course of the exhibition period. ∈Y∋, Otomo Yoshihide,
KOM_I, Makigami Koichi, Fuyuki Yamakawa and others will perform Christian Marclay’s graphic
scores, marking a new chapter in the history of Marclay’s special and on-going relationship withJapan’s experimental music scene which began during his first visit to the country in 1986. Aband led by Jim O'Rourke will also be formed for this performance (Jim O'Rourke [guitar],
Tatsuhisa Yamamoto [drums], Marty Holoubek [bass], Eiko Ishibashi [flute], and Kei Matsumaru[saxophone]).
(Details will be announced on the museum website at a later date).
13 Christian Marclay playing his Phonoguitar, 1983
Photo: Steve Gross© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

Contact

Museum: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Public Relations Mihoko Nakajima / Chiako Kudo E-MAIL: mot-pr@mot-art.jp
TEL: +81-3-5245-1134
URL: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en* All Programs are subject to change.

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Christian Marclay Translating

Information
Exhibition Period

November 20 (Sat) –February 23 (Sun), 2022

ClosedMondays (except Jan 10, Feb. 21 2022), Dec 28. 2021–Jan 1. 2022, Jan 11.

Opening Hours

10:00 - 18:00 (Tickets available until 30 minutes before closing.)

Admission

Adults –1,800yen / University & College Students, Over 65 –1,200yen / High School &Junior High School Students –600yen / Elementary School Students & Younger – Free

Venue

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Exhibition Gallery 1F

Organizers

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for
History and Culture

CuratorTomoko Yabumae (MOT)TEL+81-50-5541-8600 (Hello Dial)

Concurrent Exhibitions“Viva Video! The Art and Life of Shigeko Kubota”, “EUGENE STUDIO After the rainbow”“MOT Collection”

Contact

Museum: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Public Relations Mihoko Nakajima / Chiako Kudo E-MAIL: mot-pr@mot-art.jp
TEL: +81-3-5245-1134
URL: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en* All Programs are subject to change.

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PRESS RELEASE
Christian Marclay Translating

PRESS IMAGES

1 Recycled Records, 1981
collaged vinyl records
30 cm diameterCollection of the artist© Christian Marclay.
Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

4 Untitled, 2004
photogram© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula
Cooper Gallery, New York.

2 Untitled (from the series 'Imaginary
Records'), 1992
altered record cover 31.1 cm x 31.1 cm
Photo: Steven Probert© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula
Cooper Gallery, New York.

3 Actions: Froosh Sploosh Wooosh Sskuusshh Splat Blortch(No.2) , 2014
screen print and acrylic on canvas
222.2cm x 302.5 cm© Christian Marclay. Photo © White Cube (George Darrell)

6 Untitled from Graffiti Composition,1996-2002
detail from portfolio of 150 prints
From a set of 28 folios. Produced and published by mfc-michèle© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper
didier, Paris /Brussels
Gallery, New York.
© Christian Marclay & by mfc-michèle didier. Courtesy Paula

5 Ephemera: A Musical Score (detail), 2009

Cooper Gallery, New York.

7 Recycling Circle, 2005
video installation with soundPhoto: Osamu Watanabe© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Gallery
Koyanagi, Tokyo.

8 Continental (from the series 'Body
9 Scream (Orange and Blue
Mix'), 1991
Shaking), 2019
2 record covers and cotton threadcolor woodcut on paper
54.6cm x 33cm
220.1cm x 121.5 cm
Photo: Steven Probert© Christian Marclay.
© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula
Courtesy Paula Cooper
Cooper Gallery, New York.
Gallery, New York.

11 Surround Sounds, 2014-2015
video installation
Photo: Ben Westoby© Christian Marclay. Courtesy White Cube, London,and Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

Contact

10 Face (Fear), 2020
collage on paper 30.2 cm x 30.3 cm© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Gallery
Koyanagi, Tokyo.

13 Christian Marclay playing his Phonoguitar, 1983
Photo: Steve Gross
12 Christian Marclay Photo by The Daily Eye© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper
Gallery, New York.

Museum: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Public Relations Mihoko Nakajima / Chiako Kudo E-MAIL: mot-pr@mot-art.jp
TEL: +81-3-5245-1134
URL: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en* All Programs are subject to change.

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Christian Marclay Translating

IMAGE REQUEST FORM

FAX. +81-3-5245-1141

We have prepared 13 PR images for members of the press for the purpose of creating or supporting timely news stories related to theexhibition. Use of the press images for any other purpose requires the additional prior permission of the museum and may also require
the additional prior permission of third-party rights holders. Obtaining these permissions is the sole responsibility of the press user.
Press images may not be reproduced or published by commercial stock houses or archives under any circumstances.
Press images must be reproduced in their entirety, and must include any available identifying information provided by the museum,
including proprietary collection information, credit lines, copyright, and trademark notices. Images may not be cropped, detailed,overprinted, or altered.
The images can be obtained upon request using the following image request form. Please provide the following information via e-mail or
fax (+81-3-5245-1141). With regards to the usage of these images in your publication, we would like to make the following requests:* We would much appreciate it if we could be provided with a copy of respective article texts for us to check for errors before the final
print.
* We kindly ask for a copy of the respective magazine, newspaper, DVD, video file, website link etc. for us to keep in our press archives.

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1

Christian Marclay, Recycled Records, 1981 Collaged vinyl records 30.5 cm diameterCollection of the artist © Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

2

Christian Marclay,Untitled (from the series 'Imaginary Records'), 1992
altered record album cover 31.1 cm x 31.1 cm
Photo: Steven Probert © Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

3

Christian Marclay, Actions: Froosh Sploosh Wooosh Sskuusshh Splat Blortch (No.2) , 2014
screen print and acrylic on canvas 222.2 cm x 302.5 cm© the artist. Photo © White Cube (George Darrell)

4

Christian Marclay, Untitled, 2004 photogram© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

5

Christian Marclay, Ephemera: A Musical Score (detail), 2009
From a set of 28 folios. From a set of 28 folios. Produced and published by mfc-michèle didier, Paris /Brussels© Christian Marclay & by mfc-michèle didier. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

6

Christian Marclay, Untitled from Graffiti Composition,1996-2002
Detail from portfolio of 150 prints© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

7

Christian Marclay, Recycling Circle, 2005 video installation with soundPhoto: Osamu Watanabe © Christian Marclay. Courtesy Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo.

8

Christian Marclay, Continental (from the series 'Body Mix'), 1991
2 record covers and cotton thread 54.6 cm x 33 cm
Photo: Steven Probert © Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

9

Christian Marclay, Scream (Orange and Blue Shaking), 2019
color woodcut on paper 220.1 cm x 121.5 cm© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.

10 Christian Marclay, Face (Fear), 2020 collage on paper 30.2 cm x 30.3 cm© Christian Marclay. Courtesy Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo.
11 Christian Marclay, Surround Sounds, 2014-2015 video installation
Photo: Ben Westoby © Christian Marclay. Courtesy White Cube, London, and Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.
12 Christian Marclay Photo by The Daily Eye
13 Christian Marclay playing his Phonoguitar, 1983
Photo: Steve Gross © Christian Marclay. Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery, New York.
Contact

Museum: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
Public Relations Mihoko Nakajima / Chiako Kudo E-MAIL: mot-pr@mot-art.jp
TEL: +81-3-5245-1134
URL: https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en* All Programs are subject to change.

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