Statement
Tadahiro Gunji is creating a series of works called “COLLECTIVITY” that exist between painting and sculpture. His works are born from the “in-between” of things, especially between opposing objects. He focuses on the subtle Japanese concept of “ma 間” and believes that the space between is not an empty void, but rather a space that enriches the tension in between. He quotes the philosophy of Sen no Rikyu, stating that the beauty of “wabi” can be found in the empty spaces left in a painting.
He interprets his own works as evolving from the subtle space between things. His interpretation of “ma” includes the space between things and objects, the time between events, relationships between people, color combinations, and opportunities in life. He views this as something closer to the invisible emotions that arise between things and not the beauty of minimalism or empty spaces. He concretizes this concept in his works, expressing the binary opposition between geometric forms and organic lines, sculpture and painting, Japanese elegance and simplicity, and artificial and natural objects.
He is also inspired by the concept of time as the “in-between.” Drawing inspiration from the aging process of the resin material he uses, he explores the relationship between the surrounding environment and the resin material that reflects it, allowing for human sensibilities and perceptions to arise in the empty spaces between the work and the viewer.
He explains that he creates specific works to embody the subtle, indefinable emotions and sensations he experiences between himself and something else. He believes that this subtle Japanese aesthetic sensibility exists even in the current VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) era and continues to create works based on this “in-between” philosophy.
Exhibitions:
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2024 COLLECTIVITY 093–128 “Between summer and fall” B1 Storage
2024 Group show “PARAGON OF WONDER” TAPPAN
2023 COLLECTIVITY082–093 “In-between” NEPENTHES NYC
2023 Group show “APEIRON” TAPPAN
2020– TAPPAN Launch
2019 “ASCULPTURE” RAD HOURANI FOUNDATION AUGUST 7TH - SEPTEMBER 7TH 2019 exhibition
2019 “SALAD DAYS” a young space online exhibition
2017 “Collectivity 026–034” hpgrp Gallery NYC
2016 “Collectivity 015–025” hanare NON-GRID Inc.
“Collectivity 000–014” BATSU ART GALLERY
2015 “DIESEL ART GALLERY INSTALLATION”
“Here is Zine Tokyo 10th”
TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS
2014 “VISIBLE WIND” SHANGHAI ONE GALLERY
2013 COMMON Presents “NEW END MARKET vol.2”
Cool Japan Fund “JAPAN CREATIVE PLATFORM”
2012 The 10th International Poster Triennial in Toyama
REDonePRESS product show “NEW END MARKET”
2010 TABLOID
2009 The 9th International Poster Triennial in Toyama
DAIDO MORIYAMA “RECORD” ON THE ROAD
COLLABORATION WITH EIGHT CREATORS
2008 IID IID GREEN DAY
2007 X展－07GDC “平面设计在中国”国际评审提名展”
2006 The 8th International Poster Triennial in Toyama
2004 International Triennale of Contemporary Art
2003 onedotzero Extended Play 03 RESFEST RESMIX SHORTS
2002 Tokyo National University of Arts Graduation works Exhibition
Work collected at:
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The Peninsula New York
Rad Hourani Art Foundation
The Museum of Modern Art, Toyama
Italy Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa