Tomás Saraceno "Cloud Cities"

Figure of a future city floating in the sky.

Tomás Saraceno Cloud Cities, 2011. Installation view at Hamburger Bahnhof. Photo: Tomás Saraceno

Tomás Saraceno's huge installation works are now in exhibit at Hamburger’s Bahnhof museum of contemporary Arts, in a hall that used to be utilized as a platform station. There are some kinds of floating balloons that look like soap bubbles. The space seems so fantastic such that it cannot ever happen in reality. However, these installation works let viewers think how the city is to be, by not drawing them into fantastic world, but into a real world.

Toshihiko Shibuya

Painting to spacial art.



Toshihiko Shibuya, an artist based on Sapporo, Hokkaido, creates artwork wishing for a resonance to a place. He is one of the few artists who shows new art expressions through a theme on this region with heavy snowfalls.

He will participate in a group exhibition “MYSTIQUES” at the Cross Hotel Sapporo, an outdoor exhibition at Sapporo Art Park, and an art event called “Snowscape Moere” at Moerenuma Park. The winter season in which we can enjoy the work of Mr. Shibuya will arrive at Hokkaido. We interviewed Mr. Shibuya who is about to show his work at the Cross Hotel Sapporo.

Please introduce yourself.

Cannes Dance Festival 2011

Body myth, image myth and technology myth.

'Moving Target' Ballet National de Marseille © Olivier Houeix

The 18th’s Cannes Dance Festival was held for a total of five days from the 22-27 November in Cannes, France, internationally known for the film festival. Frederic Flamand, the artistic director of the festival, created the program called “New Mythology”. For the festival, there are three main themes such as body myth, image myth and technology myth, or asking about the meaning of the body in the high-tech era. This theme of mythology will also be carried on during the next festival in 2013.

'New Work' LA LA LA Human Steps © Olivier Houeix

The approach towards myth varied depending on the companies and choreographers. For example, the performance style of Thierry Thieu Niang and Compagine Heddy Maalem is contemporary ballet, while La La La Human Steps is contemporary ballet with extremely developed technique; they presented “New Work” for the first time in France. This is a memorable and symbolical piece celebrating the company’s 30 years. It is almost unconceivable how the displayed bodies look so extremely beautiful, using spotlight and the contrast between light and shadows that make the dancer’s silhouette stand out. Of course, this incredible technique, the troupe’s main characteristic, is thoroughly showed in this performance.

SUNDAY

When you visit the home of a contemporary art collector...　

Art space “CUPSULE” and the cafe “SUNDAY” opened at Mishuku, Tokyo in summer 2011. At the cafe “SUNDAY”, you can relax with delicious meal and comfortable atmosphere while enjoying the collection of contemporary art.

The exhibitions are rotated in every 2-3 months. The exhibited works at the gallery are Koki Tanaka and Teppei Kaneuji from the left. The pots for the plants were made by Kitajima Shibori Seisakusho, which is famous for making parts for the tips of space rockets.

Azito News November 11

AZITO is pleased to introduce new artworks by Keiichi Tanaami.

"Lost and Wandering Bridge 4" by Keiichi Tanaami

Wabisabi "Black Beauty"

Typography and Calligraphy

At Cross Hotel Sapporo, Wabisabi, a Sapporo-based graphic design duo, is exhibiting their new works at "Black Beauty - Typography and Calligraphy". This is an art project organised by the hotel together with our Shift magazine in order to introduce artists from Sapporo and Hokkaido, by means of a hotel. Exhibition shifts every three months, summing to four times a year. This is the second one from this a-year-long project.

Yokohama Triennale 2011

OUR MAGIC HOUR - How Much of the World Can We Know?

A triennial international art exhibition, the 4th Yokohama Triennale, kicked off at length from August 6th. It was also a favorite topic that both females, a general director, Ms. Eriko Osaka (a director at Yokohama Museum of Art), and an artistic director, Ms. Akiko Miki, lead the triennale for the first time in their 10 years history.

Carsten Nicolai, autoR, 
2010 / 2011 (New Version). Installation view for Yokohama Triennale 2011
.
Courtesy Galerie EIGEN＋ART, Leipzig / Berlin and The Pace Gallery

Photo by Keizo
 Kioku. Photo Cortesy of Organizing Committee for Yokohama Triennale

In addition to that, Yokohama Museum of Art was selected as a venue for the first time along with a previously utilized site, BankART Studio NYK (NYK Waterfront Warehouse), which attracted some attention. How much festive energies can they bring to the ordinary existing white cube as the international exhibition?

It was used to be hosted by both Japan Foundation and City of Yokohama, however, Japan Foundation left because of budget cuts and City of Yokohama became a main organizer for the show. It is safe to say that a venue selection was a last resort for the international exhibit this time.

Ugo Rondinone, moonrise.east.march, 2005. Photo: Ellen Page Photography, New York
© Ugo Rondinone. Courtesy the artist and Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zürich

PINA - A film for PINA BAUSCH by WIM WENDERS

Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost.

Even if you are not familiar with Contemporary Dance, you might have heard of Pina Bausch, who is one of the most internationally well-known dancers and Choreographers in this era. Her innovative style brings huge influence on Cotemporary Dance.

“Pina”is a documentary film about Pina Baush, sadly died in 2009 all of sudden. After directing “Buena Vista Social Club”, Wim Wenders has been thinking to make a movie with Pina, a frined of him for 20 years.

DOTMOV FESTIVAL 2011

Screening start from November 2011 throughout 2012 around the world.

DOTMOV is a digital film festival organized by online magazine "SHIFT", aiming to discover unknown talented creators and provide an opportunity to show their works. We had a total of 208 works from 18 countries this year, and an excellent 11 works among them were selected by guest judges. All the selected works are also presented on the website.
This year's festival will take place in several cities in Japan and overseas from November 2011 throughout 2012.

KEIKO + MANABU "MAGIC TENT"

DIESEL HOME COLLECTION INSTALATION PROJECT

This is a collaborative project between typical rock and chic products by DIESEL, interior designers and architects. The designs are updated every 3 months during the one year of exhibition period. The 1st instalment begun on August 20th in 2011 at DIESEL SHIBUYA, Tokyo. The starter for this project will be KEIKO+MANABU, an architecture team based in Tokyo and Seattle.

Shift 2012 Calendar

12 visuals have been selected for SHIFT 2012 CALENDAR! Sale from October 20th.

The Shift Calendar Competition started in 2003 with an aim to discover fresh creators. For the 9th competition of this year we have received 1,279 entries from 30 countries. 12 carefully selected works will decorate each month of the Shift calendar, which will be on sale from October 1st and appeared in shops and galleries around the world.

Dojima River Biennale 2011

"ECOSOPHIA-ART & ARCHITECTURE"

In its 2nd year, Dojima River Biennale 2011 is now being held at Dojima River Forum. The event is located by Dojima River in the center of Osaka.

me Collectors Room Berlin

Personal museum emitting a strong personality with peculiar collections.



There are countless contemporary art museums, galleries and private collections in Berlin. However the visitors are usually fascinated by the artwork, not by the space itself. Even though some people might dislike, me Collectors Room Berlin attracts the visitors with rather too strong a personality.

Thomas Olbricht © Schacht 2

Copenhagen Design Week 2011

THINK HUMAN...

Any design week will open a city's best offerings up to the local and international public, and in Copenhagen- there is no exception.

The Danes are well-known for conscious and talented designers, innovative thinking in sustainability, and immaculate organization.

Henrik Norström

“Don’t be surprised if we put the final touches to your meal directly at your table.”

Henrik Norström is one of the youngest examples in the current Nordic culinary arena. Due to Lux – his restaurant located next to the bay of Lila Essingen, in Stockholm – he has established a style, his own concept. Still open to other culinary influences, his vision is based in the Swedish flavors. For him, the most important thing is to be supplied on each season from local producers. It is all about to get the raw materials closer the better. He works mostly in the area of Mälaren Valley, a big lake that spans 120 kilometers from east to west in opposite direction to the Baltic entrance. The restaurant is located in the third building that Swedish company Electrolux built in 1960. They got this simple restaurant from the 30´s actually. Electrolux built the whole island – all the apartments for their factory workers. The Swedish architecture studio Koncept did the project for Lux. It´s a bit of factory thinking so all the workers where eating in the middle of the room. Different cheeses, cold cuts, wines or other liquors, are reserved in shelves and refrigerators in the same room. That is very handle for the service but also it gives a familiar and cozy feeling. They like to care on details. For instance the menu are illustrations, inspirational drawing from summer menu. third one made by the same artist at Woo Agentur in Stockholm.

Obihiro Contemporary Art 2011

- 100 Days at Shinshokaku -

Obihiro Contemporary Art 2011 -100 Days at Shinshokaku-is held from May 28, 2011. Shinshokaku is a traditional Japanese-style house located in Manabe Garden, the largest in the nation. Built in the city center to commemorate a visit to the city of Obihiro by the Taisho emperor during his reign as crown prince in 1911, it was moved to the garden in 1969. 2011 is its 100th anniversary. 100 Days at Shinshokaku is an art festival with artists from not only Obihiro but also Kitami, Asahikawa, and Sapporo. The festival celebrates Shinshokaku's 100 years and showcase various contemporary arts of the times.

Chim↑Pom

Revolutionist of the contemporary art?

Chim↑Pom was formed in 2005 with 6 artists. Since the start, they created works involving social issues such as "Thank You Celeb Project I'm BOKAN" that exploded luxury designers' brand bags and plaster figure busts in Cambodia, and "Making the sky of Hiroshima 'PIKA!'" which they drew a word "PIKA" by airplane in Hiroshima. The works have gained a high reputation and they have been invited to both national and international exhibitions, such as 29th Sao Paulo Art Biannial, also Asian Art Award in 2010 as Japanese representative.

Chim↑Pom member　Photo: Hiroyuki Matsukage
Ryuta Ushiro, Ellie, Yasutaka Hayashi, Toshinori Mizuno, Motomu Inaoka and Masataka Okada (Clockwise from the right bottom)

Their solo exhibition "REAL TIMES" includes their performance at Shibuya Station featuring Taro Okamoto's "Myth of Tomorrow", that reminds of Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant. SHIFT interviewed Ryuta Ushiro and Masataka Okada.

Please introduce the exhibited works.


HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO

A crossroad of art & culture that present Kyoto's now.

On April 28, 2011, in between Kujo and Jujo at the south side of Kyoto Station, a 23 year-old student dormitory was renovated and reopened as a hotel and apartment, “
HOTEL ANTEROOM KYOTO”.

The concept of the hotel is the place where art and culture that represent the present Kyoto gather. The space unites the people around the world visiting Kyoto and the people live in the apartment.

Go Yayanagi

POP UKI

Go Yayanagi was born in Obihiro, Hokkaido in 1933. Since the 1960s he has staged a wide range of individual exhibitions and gained international fame. In the 1970s, he started expanding his activities from 2D to 3D and into fashion, architecture, environmental art and moving images. Today he is as active as he has always been.

Machinaka Art Cross Edition presents Go Yayangagi's "POP UKI" curated by SHIFT, at Cross Hotel Sapporo from 22 April to 10 July, 2011.

SHIFT interviewed Yayanagi on his arrival for the opening of the show.

© Tokyo Gallery + BTAP

You have achieved international fame due to your active participation in prominent international art fairs such as the Sao Paulo Biennale and Venezia Documenta. Please introduce yourself including your activities. Please also share how you became an "environmental artist".

Tara Donovan: Untitled (Mylar)

A new sprawling single large-scale installation by Tara Donovan.

I must admit that I am an admirer of Tara Donovan’s work. It simply is among the best art that I’ve seen in my ten years living in New York so far.

I still remember vividly in 2002 a room with a mass of trimmed pencils on the floor resembling a coral reef colony or a colossal puffy cloud on the wall, which on close view, consisted of thousands of cut straws glued together. Both pieces were shown in the now defunct Ace Gallery on Tribeca’s Hudson Street, which was also one of my favorite galleries in the city.

Tara Donovan has a unique way of looking at ordinary objects, and working with them, which is so subtle and powerful at the same time, that it reminds me of childhood or that ability to be awed by the mystery of the world so natural in that early stage of life.