This special exhibition presents works by Noritaka Tatehana that are concurrently featuring in the online exhibition EDO TOKYO RETHINK, an event organised by the city of Tokyo to exhibit new works with a focus on traditional crafts and industries of Edo era Tokyo. Noritaka Tatehanaʼs initial inspiration came from his re-evaluation of past Japanese culture. In RETHINK, he shows new works that result from a reinterpretation of traditional crafts and industries of Edo era Tokyo.
About the EDO TOKYO RETHINK online exhibition
The 'Edo Tokyo Kirari Project' seeks to refine technologies and products rooted in the traditions of Edo Tokyo and broadcast them to the world. It has commissioned globally-renowned contemporary artist Noritaka Tatehana to direct the online exhibition EDO TOKYO RETHINK. For this exhibition, craftsmen in traditional Tokyo industries work in collaboration with Noritaka Tatehana. Their collaborative projects are released online, featuring images and video of their display in the Marquis Hosokawa Mansion, a Tokyo Cultural Heritage Property in the grounds of Wakeijuku. The exhibited works explore the theme of modern reinterpretations of traditional Japanese culture, otherwise referred to as RETHINK, Tatehanaʼs unique creative process. Tatehanaʼs artworks highlight the charms and values of Japanese traditional industries through a contemporary approach.
Noritaka Tatehana presents a redesigned worldview by combining elements of traditional Japanese culture with those of the contemporary era. His carefully honed artistry is elegantly expressed through various media, and his creations, which nurture the sensitivities of Japanese history, tradition,and innovation, burst with endless possibilities for the future. Gaining the attention of audiences all over the globe, Tatehana is known for his 'Heel-less Shoes' series inspired by takageta – elevated wooden clogs worn by traditional Japanese courtesans. The artistʼs works have been acquired by internationally acclaimed institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Founded in March 2017 by director, Kosaku Kanechika, KOSAKU KANECHIKA is a contemporary art gallery in Tokyo, Japan, that belongs to a new generation of venues re-defining the local contemporary art landscape. The gallery showcases Japanese artists who are renowned domestically and on an international scale, representing Yutaka Aoki, Junko Oki, Takuro Kuwata, Ataru Sato, Chikashi Suzuki, Noritaka Tatehana, and fumiko imano. The gallery also hosts exhibitions featuring overseas artists such as Dan McCarthy and Ruby Neri, introducing artists that engage in novel expressions transcending both medium and genre.
