Uwabatake Art Event, KŌGEN

Dates｜ September 18, 2024 (Wed) – October 5, 2024 (Sat) 2024
Venue｜  √K Contemporary
Artists｜　Toshio Yamamura, Shiro Yamazaki, Yukio Shakunaga, Yo Shakunaga, Toshiyuki Kita, Yusuke Takano, H-NAITO
Organizer｜ Communication Design Center
Support｜√K Contemporary

 

√K Contemporary(Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) is proud to present KŌGEN- a special exhibition produced by the Communication Design Center – at our gallery through October 5th, Sat. Centered around a theme of traditional Japanese tea ceremony, the exhibition will have tearooms set up on every floor of the gallery, each given a modern twist through features such as a two-mat tatami ceremonial space, Nijo Kekkai, designed by Toshiyuki Kita, and a futuristic tearoom by Yusuke Takano and H-NAITO.

In addition to these unique tearooms, a collection of works will be on display by a variety of artists, all of whom can trace a connection back to “Uwabatake Art”, a special art festival held in its quaint, eponymous hamlet hidden away in the mountains of Toyama Prefecture. Featured artists and works will include Etchu Seto-ware by ceramic artists Yukio Shakunaga and Yo Shakunaga, photographic works by Yusuke Takano, tea ceremony instruments created by Shiro Yamazaki, and paintings by Toshio Yamamura.

 

 

About Uwabatake Art

In a small hamlet of Toga in Toyama Prefecture, a small art festival is organized and put on by volunteers since 2007: Uwabatake Art. Using traditional heritage homes owned by individuals within the village in which to display artworks and enjoy tea, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy this special atmosphere and make new encounters, both with people and art.

 

１F｜　Toshiyuki Kita (Tea Room design) × Yukio Shakunaga (Ceramics)

Known worldwide as a visionary product designer, Toshiyuki Kita first exhibited “CEREMONY SPACE” upon invitation for the 10th Anniversary celebrations at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Featured alongside this uniquely austere, yet stately display, are the works of one of the leading artists of Etchu Seto-ware ceramics- Yukio Shakunaga. Said to have been loved by Steve Jobs, Shakunaga’s works are made of a white clay, resulting in a texture that resembles a blend of earthenware and porcelain, catching eyes with their sophisticated yet minimalist shapes.

Image：Toshiyuki Kita “CEREMONY SPACE” (exhibited 1986), 180×180×180cm  Frame/wood/Urushi-nuri (Lacquered), Ryukyu tatami

 

２F｜　H-NAITO (Tea room design) × Yusuke Takano (Photography)　

The second floor presents a collaboration featuring a tea room designed and given a modern twist by H-NAITO (who presides over this exhibition’s organizer, the Communication Design Center), and photographical art by Toyama-based photographer Yusuke Takano. The modern tea room, upon first-glance not obvious that it is even a tea room, is made up of aluminum and photography and occupies the center of the space, surrounded by Takano’s water-inspired photography.

Image： Yusuke Takano Thawing (2024), 120×80×3cm　Photo, Inkjet print, fine art paper, aluminum panel

 

B1F｜Shiro Yamazaki (Tea room design) × Toshio Yamamura (Painting)

Boasting the traditional tea room architecture by the shrine architect, Chisato Ichikawa of  HANAMASU Mokko, the basement floor features a team room set up by and showcasing tea ceremony implements created by Shiro Yamazaki, noted as a kaleidoscope artist, as well as for his engraving and bamboo craftsmanship. The walls surrounding this tea room showcase the fantastical paintings by Toshio Yamamura.

Image：Toshio Yamamura Leviathan-2  (2004), 91×182cm　Wood panel, acrylic paint

 

 

 

 

Transcending traditional schools: Tea ceremony events to be held throughout exhibition period

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will be able to enjoy tea ceremonies hosted by a diverse cast of tea masters, each with their own unique and personal style. We invite you this autumnal season to come and enjoy the art of Japanese traditional tea, embracing the atmosphere, dialogue, and artworks with all five senses.  *All tea ceremonies will be held in Japanese.

Tea Masters《 亭主 》

Hidesato Nakao・Nakata Kichu-an・Kahou Seiju・Rumi Tsuchiya・Yuta Takahashi・Chieko Miyazaki・Mieko Makabe・Hitomi Kubo・Shiro Yamazaki・Yusuke Takano・Makiko Koiso・Yoko Okuda・Akisato Shimada・Santos・Himeka Munetoshi・Gekishibu Chakai

————

9/20 (Fri)                  
Yoko Okuda  Sparkling Tea Ceremony
12:00 /  1pm / 2pm / 3pm / 4pm / 5pm / 6pm
4 guests per session　Admission：2,000yen

Yuta Takahashi（“Insta Tea Club”President）Usucha sessions
12pm / 1pm / 2pm / 3pm
8 guests per session　Admission：3,000yen

 

9/21 (Sat)                                                       
Rumi Tsuchiya（Tablestyle Sado“Tsubaki no Kai”Chairperson）Teicha sessions
11:30am
15 guests 　Admission：2,000yen

Rumi Tsuchiya (Includes instructor-led workshop/experience
1pm / 3pm
4 guests per session　Admission：6,000yen

 

9/22 (Sun), 23(Mon)                
Shiro Yamazaki (Suimintei, Kai-an) Usucha Sessions
1pm / 2pm / 3pm / 4pm
3 guests per session　Admission：1,500yen

 

9/25 (Wed)                                 
Himeka Munesato(tea master) Usucha sessions
Rock”Tea Ceremony
11:30am – 3:30pm
Admission：1500 yen

 

9/26 (Thu), 27 (Fri)                  
First Ceremony｜Mieko Makabe (Instructor at Omotesenke Fushin’an) Usucha sessions
11am / 12pm / 1pm / 2pm / 3pm

Second Ceremony｜Hidesato Nakao (tea master) Usucha sessions
11:30am / 12:30pm / 1:30pm / 2:30pm / 3:30pm

4 guests per session　Admission： 8,000 yen for both ceremonies

 

9/28 (Sat)                          
Makiko Koiso（“Kigi no Kai”Chairperson）Usucha sessions
Gallery Tour Tea Ceremony
A special usucha tea gathering in which participants will tour each floor through a gallery talk
11am–12:30pm / 1pm–2:30pm / 3pm–4:30pm / 5pm–6:30pm

4 guests per session　Admission：3,000yen

 

9/29 (Sun), 30 (Mon)                
First Ceremony ｜Hitomi Kubo (Urasenke School of Tea, Hifumi-kai) Usucha sessions

Second Ceremony｜Re:CYCLE
Art Unit presented by Akisato Shimada (Entrepreneur)and Yusuke Takano (Photographer)

9/29　 12pm / 3pm
9/30　 11:30am / 2pm / 4:30pm

8 guests per session　Admission：5,000yen for both ceremonies

 

10/1 (Tues), 2 (Wed)               
Gekishibu Chakai
First Ceremony｜ Yusuke Takano (Photographer) (Concept:Takashi Fukiji) Usucha session
Second Ceremony｜ Hidesato Nakao (Tea master) Usucha session

10/1 　12pm  / 3pm
10/ 2　 11am /  1pm / 3pm
5 guests per session　 Admission：3,000yen for both ceremonies

Hidesato Nakao (Tea master) Porridge Tea Ceremony

10/1　7pm
5 guests　Admission：15,000yen

 

10/3 (Thu)                                  
Shiro Yamazaki (Suimintei, Kai-an）Usucha sessions
1pm / 2pm / 3pm / 4pm
3 guests per session  Admission：1,500yen

 

10/4 (Fri）                                   
Chieko Yamazaki (Instructor of Chinese tea)　Chinese Tea Ceremony
12:30pm / 2pm / 3:30pm / 5pm
5 guests per session　 Admission：3,000yen

 

Santos (Zanin) Usucha sessions
12pm / 1pm / 2pm / 3pm / 4pm / 5pm / 6pm
4 guests per session　Admission：2,000yen

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To participate, please register via below social media, email or phone.

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/share/nQoMLmvbTzQs4YTu/?mibextid=9l3rBW

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/kogen_art/

Email | cdc.ohno@gmail.com

Tel |    090 8566 8196

Contact| Ohno

 

  • Performance Events

In addition to the tea ceremonies, there will be special performance events that will be held across three days during the exhibition. (Admission by donation system for all performances, no reservations necessary)

9/22 (Sun)  5pm start                Taka Okubo＋Raus Sui＋Daisuke Fuwa＋Aya（Dance）

9/23 (Mon) 5pm start                 Taka Okubo＋Raus Sui＋bucky＋ikumimi（Dance）

10/3 (Thu)  5pm start               Daisuke Fuwa＋Jun Wakabayashi（Dance）

 

 

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