Sexuality in Japan has had many different faces at different times. Especially from the Edo Period (medieval times in Japan) until todayʼs modern day society, the Japanese notion to sexuality has drastically changed, modernized and/or has been replaced by more contemporary forms such as “anime”.
Tokyo Erotika features the diverse works of three different artists, each from dissimilar cultures and varying perspectives on sexuality in Japan.
“Shunga” (meaning “picture of spring”) works were very popular and highly regarded in Japan especially during the Edo Period (1603-1868). Shunga is part of “Ukiyo-e” (“Ukiyo” meaning modern daily life and “e” is a drawing), which played an important role as mass-printed entertainment arts or trend media during the medieval period in Japan. Ukiyo-e was used for star's (Kabuki actors) photos for their fans as well as a leading fashion style (new Kimono designs) images during Edo period. A lot of people bought Ukiyo-e (mass printings) for their fun or the purpose to admire their stars of those times. Original Ukiyo-e and Shunga are regarded as highly collectible art pieces, bought by well-known museums world-wide.
Japanese artist, Emi Uchida, reinterprets “Shunga” the Edo Periodʼs mass entertainment-art, in a contemporary theme with alternative mediums such as oil on cotton tapestry and pen & ink on paper.
"Jiutamai" is a secretive ancient form of Japanese classical dance of obscure origins. Enjoyed byonly nobles and superiors, the dancers need to stand out in order to be selected to perform for a sole male audience, therefore getting more recognition and reward as a dancer.
Spanish photographer, Xavier Comas, documents his relationship with a Japanese Jiutamai dancer, capturing her essence in sensual and private moments. The viewer is invited to share the intimacy that exists between photographer and muse.
French and Australian artist, K-narf uses photography and mixed media, including erotic “Manga” sketches, to portray “honne”, or a personʼs true feelings, in contrast to oneʼs “tatemae”, or façade, in public. These true desires may, or may not match what one shows to society or the people around them.
The range of this exhibition offers many perceptions for art lovers to contemplate the subject of sexuality in Japanese culture.
ARTIST PROFILES:
Emi Uchida – was born in Yamanashi, Japan. After studying and receiving her degree in Fine Art at Joshibi Junior College of Art and Design, Emi worked as a designer in the fashion industry. From a very young age, she studied realistic painting techniques with established painter and well-known established pottery artists in Japan. She has constantly evolved her art styles and also a strong believer in the uniqueness of the Japanese culture, Uchida continues to create timeless works and “Contemporary Shunga” in her artistic way. Emi continues to have a yearly solo- exhibition in Japan, China and New York as well as the art fairs in Tokyo and South Korea. Emi is actively collaborating with the other artists for the site-specific art projects in Japan on a yearly basis.
K-narf - French-Australian who is currently based in Singapore. This year marks his 12th year of 49 exhibitions across six different countries namely Japan, Australia, USA, France, Italy and Singapore. His works are an effort in recycling and at the same time, a collection and a documentation of concepts. For the past ten years K-NARF has exhibited his work in many countries including Japan, Australia, France, Singapore, USA and Italy. His exhibitions, often taking the form of ephemeral installations, are shown without distinction in plants still in operation, old theatres, galleries, art biennales or abandoned garages. Amongst other places, his work has been shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Scottsdale (Phoenix, Ariz.), the Museum of Sydney, the Japan Foundation for the Arts, the Yves Klein Archives, the French Embassy in Tokyo as well as the Arles photo festival, Issey Miyake in Paris and the Clic gallery in NYC.
Xavier Comas - a fine arts graduate at the University of Barcelona, Xavier is a Bangkok-based Spanish artist who has developed a career as designer and visual artist. Inspired by the layered cultures of Asia, Xavier relies on chance to evolve projects, using the photographic lens not only to witness the elusiveness of the moment but also to be an integral part of it. Comasʼ work has been published and exhibited in Asia and Europe.
The Singapore Art Museum exhibited his installation ʻPasajeroʼ as part of Transport Asian 2009 and eventually acquired his ʻJiutamaiʼ series as part of the Museum collection. His work ʻTokyo up, downʼ, a random photographic exploration in elevators, was exhibited at Noorderlicht Photofestival 2011 and by the Museum of Estonian Architecture in Tallinn, Estonia. His last work from Thailandʼs deep south ʻThe House of the Rajaʼ makes use of the magical realism as visual language and was exhibited by H gallery in Bangkok. It will be published as a book by River Books at the end of 2012.
