HIROKI TSUKUDA

199X Storm Garden can be understood as a continuation of 199X, an exhibition that took place at NANZUKA, Tokyo, in September 2018. Its title was derived from explorations of eschatology and apocalypticism that frequently appeared as topics of lms, comics, and novels that Tsukuda had encountered in his youth. The postapocalyptic world depicted in lms such as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Mad Max (1979–1985), Blade Runner (1982), and Robo Cop (1987–1990), as well as in the manga series Fist of the North Star (1983–1988) had a great impact on Tsukuda’s vision of the future and they became important sources for the ideas and imagery that would later shape his artistic practice.

For 199X the artist ventured into depicting the end of civilisation in the year 199X. In doing so, he drew parallels between a fictional apocalypse and the actual anxiety and despair of our times. Devastating wars of gigantic proportions, radioactive pollution, fear and hubris vis-à-vis a new millennium, arti cial intelligence, social media, virtual reality—what once was fantasy has become threatening reality.

For his exhibition at Capitain Petzel, Hiroki Tsukuda explores civilisation’s aftermath and, in a rather buoyant and optimistic way, imagines the possible beginning of a different one. His visions are built upon visual fragments of the past, the present, and fictional futures. Futuristic architecture diagrams from the 70s converge with photographs of natural and urban landscapes and charcoal and ink drawings by the artist. With these compositions, rather than imposing meaning, Tsukuda aims to create sensual and a ective atmospheres in which possible worlds could emerge.

An installation akin to a futuristic ruin displayed at the centre of the main exhibition space completes the presentation: Hiroki Tsukuda collected construction materials, found objects and natural elements to build the piece that, due to its versatility, merges with the gallery’s modernist architecture.

Hiroki Tsukuda (born 1978 in Kagawa, Japan) lives and works in Tokyo. He graduated from the Department of Imaging Arts and Sciences, Musashino Art University in 2001. His works have been featured in solo exhibitions at Neuer Aachener Kunstverein (2017); Warhus Rittershaus, Cologne (2015); and in group shows at KINDL – Zentrum für zeitgenössische Kunst, Berlin (2018); Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (2012); Le Magasin – Centre National d’art Contemporain de Grenoble (2011); and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow (2011), among others. Hiroki Tsukuda is represented by Nanzuka, Tokyo; Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne; and Petzel, New York.