15/3/2012
Shuji Terayama
Tate Modern, London
'Who can say that we should not live like dogs?' centres both on astonishing film and video by Terayama and his trail-blazing shifts into other media; the artist always made work that was interrelated, often producing visionary and unexpected outcomes in whatever his chosen form. Curated by Thomas Dylan Eaton
Curated by Thomas Dylan Eaton.
Questions were an important part of the work of Shūji Terayama (1935–1983) who once remarked that he wanted to become ‘questions’ himself. An acclaimed filmmaker, poet, radio and stage dramatist, essayist, photographer and horse-racing tipster (with no less than eight volumes of commentary to his name), Terayama was, in the words of theatre critic Akihiko Senda, ‘the eternal avant-garde’.
In an era when Japan’s underground was reaching a fever pitch, Terayama was a crucial player in a complex network of creative expression, encompassing such counter-cultural legends as singer Akihiro Miwa, photographer Daido Moriyama and graphic artist Tadanori Yokoo. A tribute to this ‘many-headed’ artist, this survey centres both on his astonishing film and video and his trail-blazing shifts into other media; Terayama always made work that was interrelated, often producing visionary and unexpected outcomes in whatever his chosen form.
A season ticket is available for £20 (£15 concessions) (symposium not included). Please call 020 7887 8888 to book.
Shuji Terayama: Programme 1: The Martial Theatre Friday 16 March 2012
Shuji Terayama: Programme 2: 'Fictional Memories' Saturday 17 March 2012
Shuji Terayama: Programme 3: Landscape Theories of the Past Sunday 18 March 2012
Shuji Terayama: Programme 4: Tokyo Puck Friday 23 March 2012
Shuji Terayama: Programme 5: Letter Drama Saturday 24 March 2012
Shuji Terayama: Programme 6: Shinjuku City Plays Sunday 25 March 2012
Shuji Terayama: Programme 7: A Laboratory of Play Sunday 25 March 2012
Image: Shuji Terayama, Tomato Kechappu Kōtei / Emperor Tomato Ketchup 1971, © courtesy of Kujō Kyōko and Terayama World
Tate Press Office
Emily Rees, on 020 7887 8730 or email emily.rees@tate.org.uk
Tate Modern
Bankside - London
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 10.00–18.00
Last admission to special exhibitions at 17.15
Friday – Saturday, 10.00–22.00 (10.00–18.00 on Friday 23 and Saturday 31 December)
Last admission to special exhibitions at 21.15