Yasutaka YANO, Fruit Basket

About the exhibition

The significance of the exhibition title

The exhibition title, Fruit Basket, is taken from a musical chairs-like game that the artist played as a child. In this game, one person is “it,” and they call out some category of their choosing, such as, “People wearing blue socks,” upon which anyone falling in that category must stand up and move chairs. The defining feature of this game is that groups are formed on the spot based on the subjective ideas of whoever is “it.”

Yano identified the following as five elements of the game that resonate with his own creative process:

1. That it is possible to create groups through language.
2. That the way the groups form depends on the words used.
3. That the inner significance of these words is variable.
4. That we take the time to consider whether we fall into any of the created groups.
5. That we do not need to let others know what was decided in this regard.

For example, even if the person who is “it” were to say, “Your socks are blue,” some people might think of their socks as “turquoise,” and judgments about whether this counts as “blue” will vary from person to person. That is to say, even the same words are understood differently by different people, and their meaning gradually shifts into something else. Yano finds parallels between this structure and his own creative approach.

An opportunity to push further

The artist’s works have hitherto come from an introspective position, dealing with themes associated with personal concerns and events close to home. However, more recently, deeper research on themes that have long interested him—his own body, for example, or masculinity—has led Yano to gradually turn his gaze outward, toward society.

Yano intends to incorporate a more social perspective into his works, while deepening his grasp of themes that interest him through preparatory meetings for the exhibition and talk events during the exhibition period itself. This effort to explore the connection between his work and society more widely is a novel endeavor for the artist.

For this exhibition, the door connecting BUG to the cafe, normally closed, will be opened to create a new flow within the space. Works will also be displayed on the walls of the cafe, outside the usual exhibition space. This awareness of “outside” and “inside” is reflected not only in the treatment of the works but also the venue layout, where semi-translucent curtains and ramps will gently divide the space. We hope that you will come and see Yano’s exhibition, and appreciate how the artist continues to grow through the entire BUG Art Award experience.

Talk events

Talk events with the artist and guests will be held during the exhibition period.

*Further details on event times and how to participate will be announced on our website as soon as they become available.

▶︎November 8 (Sat) 19:00–20:30

Guest: Mika Kobayashi (Writer, Educator)

We are pleased to welcome Mika Kobayashi, who writes and organizes lectures and workshops on photography, art, and gender. Our guest will draw on their multifaceted perspective, touching on the works featured in this exhibition as they discuss the impact that representation in advertisements and public spaces has on us.

▶︎November 29 (Sat) 19:00–20:30

Guest: Shoko Nishida (Program Director, Kyoto Art Center)

Artist-in-residence (AIR) programs allow artists to spend a given period of time pursuing their creative activities in a specific location. This event will cover everything from basic information to more specific case studies, including how to look for and participate in AIR programs, available varieties, and more.

※ 実際のチラシには、穴あけ加工や単語帳を切り抜けるための点線が入っています。