10 July 2012 from 6.30pm
The Japan Foundation, London
Kosuge1-16 is a Tokyo-based artist unit, renowned for transforming gallery spaces into magical environments through their extraordinary large-scale playful sculptures and interactive installations. The duo, consisting of Chishino Kurumada and Takashi Tsuchiya, draw their inspiration from popular games and sports, creating magnificent works including a blown-up table football, which was exhibited at many places including the 2005 Yokohama Triennale*, and giant paper-doll sumo wrestling. Through these works, Kosuge1-16, rather than keeping audiences as mere onlookers, encourage them to physically participate and collaborate, providing a gateway for people to connect directly with the artworks.
To mark their residency and first solo UK exhibition The Playmakers at mac birmingham**, the artists have created a large-scale playground for children bringing nature into the gallery. The Japan Foundation has invited the duo to reveal their creative process and ideas behind such interactive projects, demonstrating that art can be fun. In a discussion to follow, they will be joined by Debbie Kermode, curator of The Playmakers, and Keith Whittle, curator and Japan Foundation Fellow, to further explore the issues surrounding participatory art and how such projects can help encourage communities of varied social backgrounds to come together and engage with the arts.
With Kosuge1-16’s frequent theme of sports and games, this talk will make a perfect match to this summer’s London 2012 Olympics.
This event is free but booking is essential. To reserve a place, please contact event@jpf.org.uk with your name, details and those of any guests.
This talk is organised in association with mac birmingham.
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