ShugoArts is pleased to announce the opening of a two-person exhibition by Morimura Yasumasa and Ritsue Mishima, Where I Am Standing, from October 30, 2021.
This is going to be our first attempt to realise a collaborative project with Morimura Yasumasa, who creates series of photographic self-portraits disguised as figures in art history from around the world and historical figures of the 20th century, and Mishima Ritsue, who utilizes glassblowing to create her artworks on Murano Island in Venice, Italy.
Although their art practises seem to be distinct from each other at first glance, these two artists found the keyword of this exhibition in Morimura's work in which he disguises himself as Matsumoto Shunsuke's self-portrait. Titled Where Am I Standing? this work features Standing Figure (1942), a masterpiece by Matsumoto Shunsuke who had an ambition to become a painter despite his loss of hearing and fought against the wartime nationalistic art trend.
An artist should place an artistic flag on the ground where he stands and execute his art practice while facing the world. The two artists have explored art phenomena from the places in which they arrived on their own; Morimura has always reconstructed modern and contemporary history focusing on 'himself' from Japan while Mishima has explored ways to sculpt light by using glass as an artistic material from Venice. In this chaotic day and age, how and where each and every one of us stands carries more weight.
In this exhibition, Morimura showcases several works from Self-Portraits through Art History series such as Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Dürer, Da Vinci, Caravaggio and Van Gogh, in addition to Matsumoto Shunsuke, while Mishima produces new works dedicated to those figures. When Morimura disguises himself as the subject of his artwork, he does not imitate the existing character like others have done, but creates his original self-portrait utilising his interpretation and imagination. Just like Morimura's art practice, Mishima will create her glass gifts while analyzing those figures from her own vantage point, imagining what kind of artworks they would like or what kind of light would illuminate their personalities the most.
This exhibition is a collaboration not only between Morimura and Mishima, but also with artists from the past. Constructed with the world full of layered imagination, this exhibition will provide us with a collaboration of artists beyond time and space. We hope you will enjoy this special exhibition.
ShugoArts, established by Shugo Satani in 2000, values its locality, selects its artists regardless of their time and place, and sends out its activities from Tokyo.
Today, it has gotten much easier to appreciate various artworks of all times and places and their meanings, as well as spaces exhibiting artworks, need to be redefined, including contemporary art galleries. ShugoArts prioritises how to realise artists’ own growth as artists or make the most of their accomplishments. In order to nurture their abilities and possibilities, we provide our space for artists to express themselves freely and follow their artistic journeys side by side. Under any circumstances, our mission is to work and grow together with artists who ceaselessly create artworks, which shine a light on life and give it validation.
ShugoArts holds about 7 exhibitions a year and participates in national and international art fairs while simultaneously managing commissions for public spaces and organising performance and talk events. In addition, we also would like to be a part of art histories at large by creating invaluable archives and assisting art institutions.
