Contemporary Art Gallery
- GALLERY
Tatsuya Matsui : Flower Robotics
November 3 (Sat.),2007,to January 27 (Sun.),2008
Installation view at Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito Photo:Kenji Otani
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.
Outline
Venue
Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito
Dates
November 3 (Sat.),2007,to January 27 (Sun.),2008
Closing dates
Mondays (Tuesdays if Monday is a national holiday)
Opening hours
9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m (no admittance after 5:30 p.m.)
Admission
Adult ¥800, Advanced purchase and Group discount(more than 20 people) ¥600, Admission Free: Child aged under 15/Senior Citizen over 65/Disabled pass holder and an attendant each/One year pass holders
Organized by
Mito Arts Foundation
Grants from
Asahi Beer Arts Foundation
Supported by
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.
Curated by
Toshihiro Asai (Senior Curator, Contemporary Art Center, ATM)
Curation Assistance
Yuu Takehisa (Assistant Curator, Contemporary Art Center, ATM)
Project Cooperation
Art Planning Rey Inc.
Contact
TEL 029-227-8120
Contemporary Art Center
【Organized by】
Mito Arts Foundation
RELATED EVENTS
1. 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.
2. Lecture by Tatsuya Matsui
Date: Nov. 17, 2007 (Sat)
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Workshop Room, Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM
3. Curator Talk
Toshihiro Asai, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art Center, ATM, will talk about the exhibition.
Date: Dec. 1, 2007 (Sat)
Time: 2:30 - 3:10 p.m.
4. Weekend Gallery Talk
CAC (Contemporary Art Center) Gallery Talkers will guide you through the exhibition.
Date: Nov.17 - Jan. 27, 2008 (Saturdays & Sundays)
*Except Dec. 24, 2007 - Jan. 11, 2008
Time: 2:30 - 3:10 p.m. (approximately)
5. 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.
Date: Nov.16, 30, 2007 (both Fridays)
Time: 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m.
6. 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.
Date: Nov. 23, 24, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Workshop Room, Contemporary Art Gallery, ATM & the city of Mito
Open to: Adults and high school students
Fee: 1,000 yen (tea and snack will be served) in addition to the exhibition admission.