For project 3, I prepared an A3 sheet demonstrating the director's personality and the type of art to be exhibited at the gallery. Below is the text and images in blog form.
The art director: The director of the gallery is an art historian who has been widely published and is interested in theories of popular culture (cultural studies). Previously she worked as a university academic in an Art History department, writing on contemporary globalisation and cultural identity. She completed a PhD on the topic of Superflat art and has a history in printmaking. She has since left academia due to the success of her gallery and works full-time with the artists and their exhibitions. The prints editioned at the gallery play with the notion of mass-production that is also exclusive craft that is only available for purchase at her gallery.
Lifestyle: She lives alone and researches art and culture extensively which requires a small library or nook in either the gallery or her apartment. Her other requirements include room for her own personal art collection, comprising mostly of prints. Her hobbies include printmaking and film. She is in her 30s and has a circle of artist friends who visit to discuss art and edition collaborative works. She also hosts casual gatherings for pop cultural discussions or film screening in the gallery below.
An example of a small printing press which is her hobby and is also included in the gallery workshop.
Two examples of the Superflat art that she is interested in and which was the subject of her PhD.
An example of her interest in popular culture taken from a 1950s Japanese film. She regularly holds film screenings and talks at the gallery.
The art: The artwork shown in this gallery is by emerging playful artists. The curator is interested in popular culture which forms the themes of some of the works. The works displayed range from painting, drawing and prints to sculpture and installation. Most mediums are exhibited. The uniting theme of the gallery is a play with the concept of high art. Artists’ intentions include the idea of fun at exhibitions, happiness from art, and the informal interaction of the art with the public. Also present is the notion that ‘art is everywhere’ including in commercial artwork. Many of the artists included have been influenced by Superflat which is inspired by Japanese consumer culture such as graphic art, animation, pop culture and fine arts.
The workshop attached to the gallery includes screenprinting and lithograph printing facilities, which play with the idea that these commercially inspired artworks can be produced as editions that celebrate the mass production of the work. These mediums were chosed because of their commercial qualities.
This artwork employs a popular motif in Japanese culture - Hello Kitty - and comments on the artistic significance of this branded figure.
The hanpanda series (half panda) is based on the character branding of Sanrio and San-X varieties amongst others.
This is an example of the gallery drawings that are unique to this particular gallery. The subject is fun and simple.
The two artworks above adapt the famous Gundam robots into paintings - the first comments on warfare and the second relates Gundam to traditional Japanese screen paintings.
This is an example of an installation dealing with the life cycle. The other parts of this exhibition includes a wolf made of mirror shards and other drawings.
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