Exhibition Overview

press release

話しているのは誰？

現代美術に潜む文学

Image Narratives

01

Literature in Japanese Contemporary Art

This group exhibition fef atures six Japanese contemporary artists, who are active both insideand outside the country. In addition to being born over a broad span of time, fr
f om the 1950s
to the 1980s, the artists make use of a diverse range of expressive methods, including installations that incorporate videos and photographs.
Common to all of the artists’ work is the notable presence of literary elements. The phrase,“UtU pictut ratur poese is” (As is painting, so is poetry)
esy , derived fry)
f om the ancient Roman poet Horace’s
Arsr Poeti
rst catic (The Art of Poetry)y , is fry)f equently cited as proof fo
f r the close relationship between
the artistic genres of poetry and painting. Discussions on the affinity between literary arts,
such as poetry and prose, and visual arts, such as painting and sculpture, hav
a e been underavtaken in a variety of ages and places.
As the title suggests, the theme of this exhibition is literature. But in this case, the word
does not refef r to literature as an artistic genre – i.e., literary works that take the fo
fef rm of abook. Rather, it indicates narratives made up of images that exist within the context ofcontemporary art. We
W hope that you will enjoy experiencing the wide array of literary
expressions in Japanese contemporary art.

Particippatingg Artists

press release

話しているのは誰？

現代美術に潜む文学

Image Narratives

02

Literature in Japanese Contemporary Art

Keizo Kitajima
Born 1954 in Nagano. Lives and works in ToT kyo.
W rkshop School of Photograpa hy, Kitajimaap
Aftf er joining Daido Moriyama’s class at the Wo
ftbecame active as a photograp
a her in 1975. The snapap
a shots he took in Koza, Okinaw
apa a the sameawyear led to a series of pictures taken in To
T kyo, New Yo
Y rk, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet
Union. In 1992, he began an ongoing series called PORTR RAITS, in which he shot people
RTf om a fixed point. In 2014, Kitajima embarked on UNTITLED
dressed in white clothing frRECORDS, a series of landscap
a e photograp
apa hs taken all over Jap
apa an. In 1983, he received theap
8th Ihei Kimura Photograp
a hy Awap
A ard. Kitajima periodically shows his work at a jointly-run
venue called photograp
a hers’ gallery (established in 2001) in Shinjuku. In 2009, Kitajima held aap
7 –1991: Ko
75
K za / To
T kyk o / NeN w Yo
Y rkr / Eastet rnte
solo exhibition of his work called Ki
K tatajajijima Ke
K izo 1975
Europo e / U.
op
U S.S.R. at the To
T kyo Metropolitan Museum of Photograpa hy.
apErika Kobay
a ashiayBorn 1978 in To
T kyo, where she now lives and works.
f such as inv
fsn isible entities, time, history, fanv
f mily, and memoKobay
a ashi’s work deals with motifs
ayry. Her books include Brer akf
rekfa
kf
fast witht Mada
thd me Curie ( Shuseisha, 2014; shortlisted fo
daf r the 27th
Y kio Mishima Prize and nominated fo
Yu
f r the 151st Akutagaw
a a Prize), and a two-volumeaw
manga on the scientific history of radiation called Childldrlddre
ren ofo Ligighig
ght: LUMU INUMINO
NOUS (Little More,2013 and 2016). In recent years, Kobaya ashi has created numerous installations in which she
aycombines videos, drawa ings, and texts. Her recent exhibitions include the solo shows 1F in th
awt e
Fore
res
reest ofo WiW ldl Birdrdsrdds (YuY taka Kikutake Gallery, ToYuT kyo, 2019) and Tr
T inityt (Karuizaw
tya a New ArtawMuseum, Nagano, 2017), and the groupu shows Haup
H rsr h Astrtratrral. ThT e Radid ants
dit III (Galerie Francescatsf r Kunst, Lüneburgr , 2018), and Roprg
opp
opppongnging
gi Crosss ing
ssn 2016: Myng
M Bodydy,dyy,Pia, Zürich, 2018; Halle fü
Y ur VoYoV icec (Mori Art Museum, ToceT kyo, 2016).

Futoshi Miyagi
Born 1981 in Okinaw
a a. Lives and works in To
awT kyo.
Using videos, photograp
a hs, objects, and texts, Miyagi’s work deals with socio-politicalap
phenomena, particularly sexual and minority issues. Miyagi’s ongoing project AmericanBoyfr
f iend, a work he began in 2012 in which he considers whether it is possible fofrf r anOkinaw
a an man to faaw
f ll in love with an American man in Okinaw
a a, is made up
aw
u of a series ofa hs, videos, texts, printed ephemera and blog entries. His published works include theap
photograp
novel Disi ta
ist nt (Kawa ade Shobo Shinsha, 2019). In 2019, he was nominated foaw
f r the 44th Ihei
Kimura Photograp
a hy Aw
apA ard. His recent exhibitions include the solo show Th
T e Drer ams Th
reT atH ve Fa
HaF ded d (CAI02, Hokkaido, 2018) and the groupu show Conteupt mp
tem orar ryrar Ja
Jap
apapanese e PhesP otog
o raograpaphy
ha hic Art Museum, ToapT kyo, 2018–19).
V l.
Vol 15: ThT ing
ngsng
gs So Fa
F int But Real (ToT kyo Photograp
ToParticippatingg Artists

press release

話しているのは誰？

現代
美術に潜む
文学

Image Narratives

03

Literature in Japanese Contemporary ArtY ichiro TaYuT mura
Born 1977 in ToT yama. Lives and works in Ky
K oto.
f rmances derived fr
fo
f om existing images andT mura’s work centers on installations and perfo
Taobjects. Using a uniquely reflective ap
a proach that transcends traditional artistic genres, Ta
T mura not only sets out to conv
n ey a message to visitors fr
nv
f om the privileged world of contemporaryart, but also inv
n ites an unusual fo
nv
f rm of communication with the viewer. Ta
T mura creates multilay
a ered narratives, containing a mixture of faay
f ct and fiction, based on a wide range of sources
f om indigenous historical themes to well-known popular subjects. His recent exhibitions hav
fra eav
included the solo shows HeH lll Scrcrecrream (KyK oto City University of Arts Art Gallery @KCKy
K UAKCU ,K oto, 2018) and G (YuKy
Y ka TsYu
T uruno Gallery, ToT kyo, 2018), and the groupu shows ThupT e Seven
Lamp
mps
mp
ps ofo tht e Art Museum (Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima, 2019),W ereWhr Am I?: ThreT e Art and Dese ig
esi n ofo Sig
i nagigageag
ge (ToT yama Prefe
Tof ctural Museum of Art and Design,feT yama, 2019), and Rop
Tooppopppongnging
gi Crosss ing
ssn 2019: Connexng
e ions (Mori Art Museum, To
exT kyo, 2019).

Y suko To
YaT yoshima
Born 1967 in Saitama, where she now lives and works.
T yoshima creates work imbued with multiple perspectives by altering existing objects such as
Toabacuses, dice, and safe
f ty pins, and a wide range of materials that are common associated withfeart such as pencils, oil paint, and wooden fr
f ames. By sampling various models of thinking
f om a social system, she develops a structure that corresponds to the model in her work. Atfr
the same time, To
T yoshima has undertaken a series of projects in which she repeatedly buys
stock and opens bank accounts to transfo
f rm her identity as the holder frfo
f om an individual into acollective, and reexamines the established relationship between fixed actions and shared roles
in everyday
a lifeayf . Her recent exhibitions include the solo show Sta
fet inle
talesleess
ss Stet el (M-gallery, ToteT chigi,2018), and the groupu shows Beyupe ond theyt e Fu
F tu
t rer ofo Meldl Sculdc lpcul tu
t rer (Maki Fine Arts, ToT kyo, 2018),and Th
T e KnK owlel dg
ledge
ge and Belil efliefs
fs ofo tht e Wo
W rlrldld (Komagome SOKO
K , ToKOT kyo, 2018).

Chikako Ya
Y mashiro
Born 1976 in Okinaw
a a, where she now lives and works.
awY mashiro delves into issues such as the U.S. military bases and war in Okinaw
Yaa a, and examinesaw
conceptual boundaries between connection and separation, succession and interrup
u tion, theupcenter and the periphery, and life
f and death. In recent years, by ap
fea proaching these as universal
a a,aw
historical problems that are ubiquitous all over the world and not peculiar to Okinaw
Y mashiro has made works that refeYa
f rence narratives rooted in historical fa
fef cts and oral legends.
She has shown her work in exhibitions such as Ky
K oto Expx eriment: Ky
xp
K oto Intet rnatitet onal Perftirfo
rfformingnng
Artst FetsFesestit vav l 2018 (KyK oto Art Center, Ky
Ky
K oto, 2018), Asia Pa
P cicifi
ific Brer weries
ree Founda
esd tidat on Sig
i natuig
t retur
Art Prize 2018 (National Museum of Singapa ore, Singap
apa ore, 2018), and From Generaapr tirat on to Generatit on: Inheritetit d Memoryter and Conteryt mptem orar ryrar Art (The Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, 2016–17). In 2018, she received the Zonta prize at the 64th International Short Film
Festival Oberhausen, and in 2017, the grand prize at The Asian Art Aw
A ard 2017 supu ported byup
W rehouse TERRADA
Wa
D .
DA

press release

話しているのは誰？

現代
美術に潜む
文学

Image Narratives

04

Literature in Japanese Contemporary Art

Keizo Kitajima
01

01

Keizo Kitajima
T ILCARL VI
TS
V LLAGE ARMENINIANIIA(From the series US
U SR 1991)
1991 / 2019
Pigment print
66.0×93.0cm
Collection of the artist© KITATAJTA
AJIMA KEIZOKeizo Kitajima
IITAT TETAT(From the series UNTIT TL
TIT ED RECORDS)
2011 / 2019
Pigment print
83.0 ×103.7cm
Collection of the artist© KITATAJTA
AJIMA KEIZO

Erika Kobayashi
0403

Erika Kobayashi
M To
MyT rcrchch
2019
C-print
54.9×36.7cm (each, set of 47)
Collection of the artist© Erika Kobayashi
Courtesy of Yu
Y taka Kikutake Gallery
Photo: Kasane Nogaw
a aaw

Erika Kobayashi
Dollllalllar
2017
Uranium glass, mirror, ultrav
a iolet lampav
61.0×41.0×7.5 φ70 cm
Private collectionCooperation: Fairywood Glass Museum© Erika Kobayashi
Courtesy of Yu
Y taka Kikutake Gallerypress release

話しているのは誰？

現代
美術に潜む
文学

Image Narratives

05

Literature in Japanese Contemporary Art

Futoshi Miyagi
06

Futoshi Miyagi
A Lampmmp(From In a We
W lllll-li
l t Room: Dialo
log
loogu
gues
e Betwt een Twtw
T o Charar ctersrar)rs
2019
Digital C-print
Collection of the artist© Futoshi Miyagi

Futoshi Miyagi
From tht e Pa
P lal cec on tht e Hilll #2ll
(From In a WeW lllll-li
l t Room: Dialologloogu
guese Betw
t een TwtwT o Charar ctersrar)
rs2019
Digital C-print
Collection of the artist© Futoshi Miyagi

0708

Y ichiro TaYu
T muraStone ofo Mada
dagdaagagascac rca
2017
Dimensions variable
Collection of Yu
Y ka Tsuruno Gallery© Yu
Y ichiro Ta
T muraCourtesy of Yu
Y ka Tsuruno Gallery

Y ichiro TaYu
T muraMidnd ig
dnigh
ght Rainbow
2017
Dimensions variable
Collection of Yu
Y ka Tsuruno Gallery© Yu
Y ichiro TaT mura
Courtesy of Yu
Y ka Tsuruno Gallery

Yuichiro Tamura

05

press release

話しているのは誰？

現代美術に潜む文学

Image Narratives

06

Literature in Japanese Contemporary Art

Yasuko Toyoshima
10Y suko To
Ya
T yoshima
Discrerep
reepancyccy
2018
Papa er, split pin, acrylic paint, ballpoint pen
ap
φ11.5 cm
Collection of the artist
Photo: KIOKU Keizo

Y suko To
Ya
T yoshima
Squarer Margrer in Thrg
T rowingn Stangt rta
2018
Plywood, linseed oil, oil paint
91.0×91.0×2.7cm
Collection of the artist

1112Chikako Ya
Y mashiro
Chinbin We
Wes
estern: Repe reep
resesentat titat on ofo tht e Fa
F milylly
2019
4KHD Video, color, soundCollection of the artist© Chikako Ya
Y mashiro
Courtesy of Yu
Y miko Chiba Associates

Chikako Ya
Y mashiro
Chinbin We
Wes
estern: Repe reep
resesentat titat on ofo tht e Fa
F milylly
2019
4KHD Video, color, soundCollection of the artist© Chikako Ya
Y mashiro
Courtesy of Yu
Y miko Chiba Associates

Chikako Yamashiro

09Infof rmation
fopress release

話しているのは誰？

現代美術に潜む
文学

Image Narratives

07

Literature in Japanese Contemporary Art

Exhibition title

Venue

Image Narratives: Literature in Jap
a anese Contemporary Art The National Art Center, Tokyo,
apSpecial Exhibition Gallery 1E
Date
Organized byAugust 28 (WeW d.) – November 11(Mon.), 2019We
Closed: TuT esday
a sayOpen on October 22 (TuT e.) and closed onTuOctober 23 (WeW d.) insteadWe

The National Art Center, TokyoOppeningg hours

10:00 –18:00{ 10:00–21:00 on Friday
a s and Saturday
aya s in August and Septemberay{ 10:00–20:00 on Friday
a s and Saturdayaya s in October and Novemberay{ Last admission 30 minutes befo
f re closing
foAdmission (tax included)

General: Adults 1,000 yen｜College students 500 yen
Advance /Groupu : Adults 800 yen｜College students 300 yenup‐ Free admission on Sun., November 3, 2019 for Culture Day.

‐ Visitors who present a ticket or ticket stub from another exhibi-‐ Visitors who are under 18, including high school students, will betion currently underway at the National Art Center, Tokyo, theSuntory Museum or the Mori Art Museum (the three facilities
that make up the Roppongi Art Triangle) will be eligible for thegroup discount.
‐ Visitors 65 and over (I.D. with proof of age required) who present
a ticket stub from the Artist Associations’ Exhibition held at theNational Art Center, Tokyo will be admitted to the exhibition at
the college student group rate.
‐ Students, faculty and staﬀ, or “Campus Members” can apply forgroup discounts.

admitted for free.
‐ Disabled persons (along with one assistant) will be admitted forfree upon presenting a Disabled Person’s Booklet or an equivalent
form of government-issued ID.
‐ Advance tickets on sale from June 28 (Fri.) – August 27 (Tue.), 2019.
‐ Tickets, both Advance and General, are available through theNational Art Center, Tokyo (open days only), ONLINE TICKETS(e-tix), and Ticket Pia (P code: 769-757). Service charges may apply.
(These services are only available in Japanese.)‐ Group tickets ( for groups of a minimum of 20 people) can only
be purchased at the National Art Center, Tokyo.

The National Art Center, To
T kyo
7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, To
T kyo 106-8558
Inquiries: +81(0) 3-5777- 8600 (Hello Dial)T itter: @NAC
TwA T_PRAC
Facebook: @nact.jp
Instagram: @thenationalartcentertokyo
Related events

Infof rmation on events will be posted as soon as
fof rmation,
fodetails are decided. For the latest info
please visit the National Art Center, To
T kyo website.
Concurrent exhibitions

Christit an Bolt
ti
lta
lt
tanski ― Lifife
iffetit meDate: January 12 (WeW d.) – September 2 (Mon.), 2019
WeV nue: The National Art Center, ToVeT kyo
Special Exhibition Gallery 2ECartit er,tir Cryr,rysryystat lllli
lizatit on oftio Ti
T me
Date: October 2 (WeW d.) – December 16 (Mon.), 2019
WeV nue: The National Art Center, ToVeT kyo
Special Exhibition Gallery 2E
Press Inqquiries

The National Art Center, To
T kyo;
Office of Communications and International Affa
ff irsffa
7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, To
T kyo 106-8558
T l: 03-6812-9925 (weekdayTea s 10:00–17:00)
ay
Fax: 03-3405-2532 E-mail: pr@nact.jp

AccessTokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Nogizaka Station,
direct access from Exit 6Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line / Toei Oedo Subway Line,Roppongi Station, approximately 4-minute walk fromExit 7{ No parking