Tatsuya Matsui Flower Robotics (English) / Contemporary Art Center, ATM

Contemporary Art Center/Gallery, ART TOWER MITO Mito Arts Foundation 1-6-8 Goken-cho, Mito-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 310-0063 Japan Click for transportation directions Phone: +81 29-227-8111 Facsimile: +81 29-227-8130 E-mail address: webstaff@arttowermito.or.jp

Tatsuya Matsui Flower Robotics

Nov. 3, 2007 (Sat) to Jan. 27, 2008 (Sun)

Closed: Mondays (except Dec. 24 and Jan. 14), Dec. 25 (Tue) Dec. 27 (Thu) through Jan. 3 (Thu), Jan. 14 (Tue)

This exhibition introduces the work of robot designer Tatsuya Matsui, who has developed such humanoid robots as "Posy" and "Palette." Aware of the limits of both human beings and technology, Matsui designs robots through the notion of "weakness" that he believes both human beings and machinery have, and creates a complementary relationship between the two. It is through his belief in the similarity between this relationship and flowers that he makes and develops his diverse works.

The exhibition presents the activities of Matsui's studio, Flower Robotics, Inc., whose work symbolizes his ideas, and carries out development both from a scientific and technological viewpoint, as well as through the ideas of design, environment and marketing. As the robot industry is one key to Japan's future success, the exhibition attempts to build a platform where visitors can imagine a hopeful future by glimpsing the outcome and the plans of Matsui and his company.

Posy
Photo/Copyright:
Masao Okamoto
(C) Flower Robotics, Inc./SGI Japan, Ltd.

Palette
Photo/Copyright:
Masao Okamoto
(C) Flower Robotics, Inc./SGI Japan, Ltd.

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PROFILE OF EXHIBITION
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The exhibition presents Flower Robotics, a creative environment conceived by Matsui and his studio Flower Robotics, Inc., and which will be realized in the near future.

Walking through this environment, visitors can experience the unique process of robot creation.

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Entrance - Overture

The entrance to the exhibition illustrates Flower Robotics' research on a decentralized city, in which a small-scale, specifically-skilled enterprise (such as itself) can function. It also shows the correlation between corporate identity and this kind of city.

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Design Room A - Lights of Creation

Introduced here is the process of creating a concept for a robot design and developing it into a project.

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Design Room B - Shift in Awareness

Models and plan drawings are exhibited here demonstrating the process of robot product design.

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Research and Development Room - Embodiment and Mutation

Robot research projects, including "Palette" and "Platina," are simulated in this room.

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Archive Room - Suite of Achievements

The products and works of Flower Robotics are showcased alongside photo documentation.

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Presentation Room - Relativity and Understanding

Displayed is a graphic presentation of production strategies to establish the robot industry.

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Corporate Cafeteria

During the exhibition, Vert et Blancher - one of Art Tower Mito's restaurants -- becomes a virtual "company cafeteria" of Flower Robotics. Matsui has conceived a special menu made of locally-produced groceries, and visitors can order them for a fee.
Food preparation directed by NEXT KITCHEN.
Vert et Blancher: 029-224-2678 (telephone).

Palette
Photo/Copyright: Nacása & Partners Inc.
(C) Flower Robotics, Inc./SGI Japan, Ltd.

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Title: Tatsuya Matsui Flower Robotics
Date: Nov. 3, 2007 (Sat) to Jan. 27, 2008 (Sun)
Opening Hours: 9:30 a.m. To 6:00 p.m. (no admittance after 5:30 p.m.)
Closed on Mondays (except the public holidays of Dec. 24 and Jan.14), as well as Dec. 25, Dec. 27 through Jan. 3 and Jan. 15
Venue: Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Admission: ¥800 General, ¥600 Advance Purchase, Groups (20 or more)
Free Students through 9th grade, Seniors 65 and older, Persons with certified disabilities along with one caretaker
Purchase tickets at the Ticket Counter in the ATM Entrance Hall
Pass: One-year passes are also available for purchase at the ATM Entrance Hall Ticket Counter.
The H.T.P. (High-teen Pass) for young people aged 15 to 19 costs ¥1,000, and the Adult Pass for adults aged 20 to 64 can be bought for ¥2,500.

Organizer: Mito Arts Foundation
Grant from: Asahi Beer Arts Foundation
Support from: Asahi Breweries,Ltd.,CASSINA-IXC,Ltd., Central Giken Industry Co.,Ltd., Kamidechomon-gama, Kenshi Art inc., maxon Japan corp., NetCOMPASS Ltd., SGI Japan,Ltd., SOUM Corporation, Tietech Co., Ltd.
Curator: Toshihiro Asai (Senior Curator, Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito)
Curation Assistance: Yuu Takehisa (Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito)
Project Cooperation: Art Planning Rey Inc.

Photo/Copyright: Masao Okamoto
(C) Flower Robotics, Inc

Tatsuya Matsui

Born in 1969, Matsui graduated from the College of Arts of Nihon University in 1991. His first job was working for Kenzo Tange Associates between 1991 and 1996. In 1998, he visited France as a researcher for both the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Creation Industrielle and IBM/Lotus France. From 1999 to 2001, he designed robots as a researcher at the Japan Science and Technology Agency, including the humanoid robots "SIG" and "PINO", which brought him Good Design Awards. In 2001, he founded Flower Robotics, Inc. where he developed robots such as "Posy", "P-noir", "Palette" and "Platina".
In addition to robot design, Matsui's works include architectural design for Hokuriku Bank Tokyo Shibuya Branch and Dunhill Ginza store, interior design for National Museum of Science and Technology Leonard da Vinci, as well as total branding design for Star Flyer Inc., starting with design for their airplane, lounge and products and extending to their corporate identity planning.

Matsui's past exhibitions include the Venice Biennale Architecture and a special group show at MoMA, New York.

He has taught at Waseda University since 2002 as a part-time instructor for the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He has also belonged to the examination committee of Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization since this year.

Flower Robotics, Inc.
Flower Robotics, Inc. is a creative enterprise consisting of robot designers, architects, designers, engineers and planners. Since its foundation in 2001, it has been committed to diverse creative activities around design, with an aim to establish the robot industry.
http://www.flower-robotics.com/

RELATED EVENTS

Lecture by Tatsuya Matsui
Time: Nov. 17, 2007 (Sat) 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Venue: Workshop Room at Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Capacity: 100 persons (first-come, first-served)
Fee: Included in the exhibition admission

Curator Talk
Toshihiro Asai, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito, will talk about the exhibition.
Time: Dec.1, 2007 (Sat) 2:30-3:10 p.m. (approximately)
Fee: Included in the exhibition admission
Meet the Curator at the gallery entrance.

Weekend Gallery Talk
CAC (Contemporary Art Center) Gallery Talkers will guide you through the exhibition.
Time: Every Saturday and Sunday between Nov.17 and Dec.23, 2007, and also between January 12 and 27, 2008, from 2:30 to 3:10 p.m. (approximately)
Fee: Included in the exhibition admission
Meet the Gallery Talker at the gallery entrance.

Gallery Tour for Parents with Babies
Staff members will give a gallery tour for parents, with small children, who may normally not have the chance to visit exhibitions. This tour is made particularly for preschool children and their parents.
Time: Nov.16 and 30, 2007 (both Fridays) from 9:30 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m.
Capacity: Five groups per session (book in advance; first-come, first-served)
Fee: Included in the exhibition admission
For reservations, call Contemporary Art Center on 029-227-8120

OTHER PROJECTS during the exhibition period

CRITERIUM 71 KAWAI + OKAMURA
Dates: Nov. 3, 2007 (Sat) to Jan.27, 2008 (Sun)
Venue: Room No. 9, Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Curator: Tsukasa Mori, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito
Grant: Asahi Beer Arts Foundation
Support: Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
Fee: Included in the exhibition admission

Workshop by Sayaka Akiyama "Connecting the shapes of Mito"
The artist Sayaka Akiyama creates colorful, expressive artworks about she has taken in Japan and abroad, incorporating her feelings at the time, the experiences she had, the people she met, and the roads she traveled. She will hold a two-day workshop for participants to create their own work from visual memories of Mito.
Time: Nov. 23 to 24 , 2007 (Fri. and Sat.) 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Workshop Room, Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito and the city of Mito
Open to: Adults and high school students
Capacity: 20 persons (book in advance; reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, and are not accepted after Friday, Nov.16, 2007)
Fee: 1,000 yen (tea and snack will be served) in addition to the exhibition admission.

ATM Contemporary Art Gallery's
Pass for Adults

A pass has been designed for adults aged 20 and older, letting the holder make an unlimited number of visits to the Contemporary Art Gallery's exhibitions for one year from the date of purchase.
The price is ¥2,500 The artwork on the pass has been designed by Hiroko Ichihara, an artist who incorporates words in her works. The logo on the pass translates loosely: "Contemporary art -- as easy as pie." The pass is on sale at the ticket counter in Art Tower Mito, located near the main entrance.

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