Rooseum Center for Contemporary Art
Japan. The artist is investigating the effects of globalization: sites and areas that are left deserted when the economy of multinational companies fails, the incidence of national stereotypes and the absurdity and consequences of the consumer society. In clear contrast to the harsh criticism of globalization there is the playful visual presentation, a kind of multi-media collage in which photography, animation and sampled music are interlaced.
Japan
For one month the Japanese artist Takuji Kogo will be showing his complex and
ever-changing multimedia project Japan at Rooseum.
Within the framework of Japan, and in collaboration with colleagues like John
Miller, Mike Bode and Sean Snyder and others, Kogo is investigating the effects of
globalization:sites and areas that are left deserted when the economy of
multinational companies fails, the incidence of national stereotypes and the
absurdity and consequences of the consumer society. These issues are being
visualized in, for example, the piece U.S. Military Bases in Okinawa, which is being
shown at Rooseum. U.S. Military Bases in Okinawa takes the abandoned American
military base in Okinawa as its starting point. Since 1972 the Japanese government
are renting the area from the original landowners and private speculators at highly
inflated prices just to, in their terms, lend it to the U.S Forces.
In clear contrast to the harsh criticism of globalization there is the playful
visual presentation, a kind of multi-media collage in which photography, animation
and sampled music are interlaced.
During his stay in Malmö, Takuji Kogo is inviting collaborators online and
conducting new research which will be used to update the evolving project JAPAN. The
piece shown at Rooseum consists of three presentations; a sound installation that
will meet the visitor in the lobby, and projections in one of the artist studios and
in the micro cinema.
Takuji Kogo puts a special emphasis on cooperation in his practice as artist, and he
is running projects such as Candy Factory
(http://www.trans.artnet.or.jp/~transart/index.html) and artonline (http://www.artonline.jp), both
of which serve as platforms for artistic cooperation. Art is, in Candy Factory and
artonline, primarily produced, distributed and shown on the Internet, which can be
seen as an indirect criticism of the traditional frameworks of art such as museums
and
galleries. The digital format invites change and perpetual updates, and is
accessible for Internet users all over the world.
The project is realized with the support of The Japan Foundation and is part of 2005
EU-Japan Year of People-to-people Exchanges.
Opening on Saturday 18 June at 3–5 p.m.
Introduction by Takuji Kogo at 3.30 p.m.
Rooseum
Gasverksgatan 22 - Malmo
Hours: Wednesday 14-20, Thursday-Sunday 12-18
Guided tours: Wednesday at 18.00, Thursday-Friday at 16.00, Saturday-Sunday at 14.00