From Hara Museum, Tokyo
The Hara Museum is saddened by the tragic loss of life caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to families.
Yasuhiro Suzuki’s “Donation Box Called Well”, a gift to the museum from an anonymous donor, was originally scheduled to be presented to the public on Sunday, March 27. This debut was postponed following the earthquake. A new date, however, has been set for the launch. Contributions to the box are to be used for the support and enhancement of the Hara Museum’s activities; however, in light of the earthquake, the museum has decided to donate all monies received this year to a charity dedicated to earthquake relief. The final choice of charity will be made after careful consideration by the end of the year.
Yasuhiro Suzuki, Concept drawing of “Donation Box Called Well,” 2011
The Hara Museum of Contemporary Art is proud to announce the debut of Yasuhiro Suzuki’s “Donation Box Called Well”, a gift to the museum by an anonymous donor. This one-of-a-kind donation box will be installed in one of the walls at the museum on Sunday, June 26. To mark its debut, a special installation of works by Yasuhiro Suzuki will be held in The Hall of the museum from June 26 (Sun.) to July 1 (Fri.). A talk event (in Japanese) by the artist will also be held on June 26 (Sun.).
“The coin is the person him or herself,” says the artist. “By dropping in a coin, the person participates in the activity of the Hara Museum. The coin drops, giving rise to a droplet and a ripple, from which a world of new art expands.”
The work appears as a single slot near the end of a wall. Drop a coin into the darkness behind it and one hears the sound of water. The image of “Donation Box Called Well” then comes alive, with ripples expanding into infinity, the size and sound of which depend on the kind of coin that was dropped in. It is a work that is unique, interactive and delightful.
In order to always reflect what the Hara Museum is “now,” the video content will be updated continuously in the future.
*Because of its nature, “Donation Box Called Well” is a work that can only be viewed by making a donation. All monies donated through this work will be applied towards the support and enhancement of the Hara Museum’s activities. However, as part of an effort to contribute towards the relief and reconstruction of the areas affected by Great East Japan Earthquake, all donations received this year will instead be given to charities dedicated to earthquake relief.
Special installation of works by Yasuhiro Suzuki marking the debut of Donation Box Called Well
Dates: June 26 (Sun.) – July 1 (Fri.), 2011 *Closed on June 27, Mon.
Place: The Hall at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
Organized by: Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
Featured works (tentative list):
“Stump of Water” (2008): A water vessel in the shape of a tree stump. A drop of water falling into the vessel creates ripples that look like tree rings.
“Eye Shooter” (2006): An eye drop dispenser in the shape of a pistol. The eye drops “fire” into the eye, creating ripples on the surface that look like a target. Each shot is a guaranteed bull’s eye.
*In addition, there will be a screening of the flip-book cartoon” Water Being” (2005) and other video-based works using monitors and projectors.
Talk Event by Yasuhiro Suzuki (in Japanese only)
Date: June 26 (Sun.), 2011 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Place: The Hall at the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
Organized by: Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
Fee: free of charge (museum admission is required)
*A reservation is required. Please contact us by phone at 03-3445-0669 or by e-mail at info@haramuseum.or.jp.
Hara Museum of Contemporary Art
Place: 4-7-25, Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0001
Tel: 03-3445-0651 Fax: 03-3473-0104 E-mail: info@haramuseum.or.jp
http://www.haramuseum.or.jp http://mobile.haramuseum.or.jp (mobile site) https://www.art-it.asia/en/u/HaraMuseum_e/ (blog)
http://twitter.com/haramuseum (Twitter/ in Japanese only/ Account name: @haramuseum)
Hours: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm; Wednesdays 11:00 am – 8:00 pm *Last entry 30 min. before closing.
Closed: Mondays (the museum is open on Mondays that fall on a holiday, but closes the next day), between exhibitions and during the New Year’s holidays
Admission: General 1,000 yen. Students 700 yen (high school and university) or 500 yen (elementary and junior high). Free for Hara Museum members and students through high school every Saturday during the school term. 100 yen discount per person for groups of 20 or more.
*Visitors will also be able to enjoy the current exhibition Ming Wong: Life of Imitation.
Directions: 5 min. by taxi or 15 min. on foot from JR Shinagawa Station (Takanawa exit); or from the same station take the No.96 bus, get off at the first stop (Gotenyama), and walk 3 min.
About the Artist
Born in 1979 in Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Yasuhiro Suzuki graduated from the Department of Design of Tokyo Zokei University in 2001. In the same year, he exhibited Perspective of Globe-Jungle, a video installation that incorporates a revolving, spherical jungle gym for children. This work traveled to parks throughout Japan as part of the Global-Jungle Project launched with the Digital Stadium program on NHK. In the years that followed, he has participated in many exhibitions and arts festivals in Japan and abroad, including Ars Electronica Festival ’02 (Austria), DEAF 03 (Netherlands) and Liile 2004 (France). Suzuki uses a wide range of mediums to create highly original works that embody everyday transient phenomena. These include Blinking Leaves (2003), an installation in which paper leaves painted with eyes seem to blink as they flutter through space. Since 2002, he has been engaged in interdisciplinary research at University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology. Last year, his work Ship of the Zipper was featured in the Setouchi International Art Festival 2010, garnering much attention. Suzuki’s design embellished the 2010 BloomBUS! free shuttle bus which ran between Shinagawa Station (Takanawa exit) and the Hara Museum (until Sunday June 12). He lives and works in Tokyo.
Artist’s website: http://www.mabataki.com
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Please check here for access information.
Now on sale. Yoshitmo Nara Charity Large-sized Postcard Set
“Be Alive!—Selections from the Hara Museum Collection”
Dates: January 14 (Sat.) – June 12 (Sun.), 2011
Project “Mickalene Thomas–Mama Bush: One of a Kind Two”
Dates: February 17 (Thurs.) – June 12 (Sun.), 2011
Next exhibition “Ming Wong: Life of Imitations”
Dates: June 28(Sat.) – August 28 (Sun.), 2011
Hara Museum is now participating in MuPon (museum discount ticket system using iPhone application)! http://www.tokyoartbeat.com/apps/mupon
Visit Hara Museum Twitter (in Japanese only) (account name: @haramuseum)
http://twitter.com/haramuseum
http://www.haramuseum.or.jp (museum website)
http://mobile.haramuseum.or.jp (mobile site)
Hara Museum ARC (Gunma)
“Cosmos: Selections from the Hara Museum Collection”
March 19 (Sat.) – June 26 (Sun.)
There has been temporary changes in museum opening hours for Hara Museum (Tokyo) and Hara Museum ARC (Gunma). Please click here for further details.