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Sonic Geometries

Wolfgang Gil

CONTRAST is pleased to present the solo exhibition “Sonic Geometries” by Wolfgang Gil, a Venezuelan-born American artist living and working in Tokamachi, Niigata from 3/16(Sat) to 3/31(Sun). Gil's installations explore the sculptural quality of sound, inviting viewers to contemplate listening as a phenomenon. They create opportunities for experiencing external space as well as internal perceptual processes. This exhibition not only features the sound-emitting sculptures showcased at the Newark Museum (Newark, New Jersey) in 2022 but also introduces two new works and a reconstructed sound installation in the basement space. Sound plays a crucial role in his work, although he typically has limited knowledge of how a sculpture should sound during its creation. When creating sound for a sculpture, he explores the object's resonant qualities by playing different sounds through it and observing the relationship between what he sees and hears. This lengthy process leads to the creation of a unique set of sounds that is specific to the object itself, defining the object’s language. In the preparation process, he meticulously installed a mockup of the exhibition in his Tokamachi basement over 3 months including the actual artwork, walls, wiring, and technology, allowing him to refine the show's sonic experience and streamline logistical processes, then the entire exhibition was shipped to Tokyo for display. After the exhibition, the same walls will be repurposed for “Honk-Tweet,” a museum he is building in Tokamachi, housing a permanent collection of his work. This space will also serve as a community hub, featuring a coffee shop and hosting workshops and educational programs. ー Thanks to: Airi, Keiko, and Matsuo Kiryu, Luigi Honorat, Mike Romeo, Masateru Namikata, Chie Matsui, Lucas Hickman, Yuhei Yamaga, Tokamachi City Immigration Concierge team, asto team, and Yamada Kenkou team.

PHOTO：Martin Holtkamp

PHOTO：Martin Holtkamp

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GOLEM Ph2

  • Heishiro Ishino
  • Akishi Ueda
  • Daiki Tsutamoto
  • Hiroaki Nakanishi
  • Yuuki Morita
  • Keisuke Yoneyama

The members of "GOLEM," Heishiro Ishino, Akishi Ueda, Daiki Tsutamoto, Hiroaki Nakanishi, Yuuki Morita, and Keisuke Yoneyama will be holding a group exhibition "GOLEM Ph2" from February 17th, Saturday to March 3rd, Sunday at CONTRAST. "GOLEM" is an up-and-coming group of sculptor artists who originated in the subculture, and who have been developing their exhibitions in order to express their solid position as so-called “sculptor artists" in the art field. The first exhibition was held at 3331 Arts Chiyoda in 2022, and this second wave of the exhibition will offer viewers a physical encounter with the theme of "sculpture" that will allow them to think about their position. In addition, they will also participate as "GOLEM Ph1.5" in the "Kirameki Art Festival"@kirameki_art_fes held at 11 venues in Taito and Bunkyo wards in Tokyo from February 16th, Thursday to 25th, Sunday, and it allows visitors to experience viewing all kinds of sculptures while grasping the flow of all kinds of sculptures in parallel at Venue 4: Hanzawa Art Shop.

PHOTO：Tsutamoto Daiki

PHOTO：Tsutamoto Daiki

Heishiro Ishino

Born in 1992 in Kobe, Japan, he graduated from Kobe Design University, Department of Crafts and Fine Arts, Figure and Sculpture Course in 2015, and from New Art School, Standard Course in 2017, SICF14 Runner-up Grand Prix, and selected for the 20th Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art Exhibition. Curator of GOLEM, a collective of plastic artists. He aims to create new genres and subdivide art forms by crossing the border between main culture and subculture and expressing a critical stance. As an artist, he creates clay sculptures based on mythological, folklore, and imaginary creatures. Major solo exhibitions include "O-M-O-T-E" (Roentgenwerke/Tokyo, 2015) and "GOLEM" (3331 Arts Chiyoda/Tokyo, 2022).

Akishi Ueda

Born 1991 in Mie Prefecture, graduated from Nagoya University of Arts, Art Creator Course in 2014. With the attributes of Pop Surrealism as his main axis, he continuously creates a worldview that encompasses Japanese tastes and nostalgia as if he were telling a story. 2021, after being hospitalized due to a brain hemorrhage, he was left with a slight eye disorder, but now he is active in various means other than modeling, including digital technology and video works. In the same year, he published a collection of figurative works entitled "COSMOS" (Genkosha). Recent solo exhibitions include "Forpraying" (Beijing, China/Suena Art Museum/2019), "NATIVECHILDREN" (Tokyo/HOW HOUSE/2020), "Longing - Sing like a Star, Dance like the Moon" (Beijing, China/2021), and "GOLEM" (3331 Arts Chiyoda/Tokyo/2022).

Daiki Tsutamoto

Born in Hyogo, Japan in 1995, he graduated from the Graduate School of Art and Design, Kobe Design University in 2020. He creates unknown ancient relics based on the concept of "traces of time. He pursues the reproduction of "reality" as ancient relics by using various expressions of metal coloring. He reconstructs the tremendous time and romance felt when confronting the relics in a museum, and records them as new traces in the present day. Major exhibitions include "GOLEM" (3331 Arts Chiyoda/Tokyo, 2022).

Hiroaki Nakanishi

Born in 1993 in Osaka, Japan, he graduated from Osaka University of Arts in 2016 with a BFA in Character Formation. He specializes in a wide range of expressions, both organic and inorganic, in order to construct a modeling beauty consisting of the structure and function of natural creatures and their more convincing existence. After leaving Capcom in 2022, he will continue to work as an independent artist using the knowledge and techniques he gained at the game company over the years. His main activities include participation as a dealer at the Wonder Festival and the exhibition "GOLEM" (3331 Arts Chiyoda/Tokyo, 2022).

Yuuki Morita

Born in 1991 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, she graduated from Rikkyo University in 2014 with a B.A. in Contemporary Psychology. In order to connect with "God in all things," he is inspired by the infinite patterns and flows of the natural world, the process of forming forms, the dynamic action of life, the cyclic world and systems of life, the spiritual world of consciousness and the place of existence, and everything that naturally occurs in this world. Inspired by all spontaneous existence in the world, he incorporates them into his own Shinto and spiritual thought, experimenting with various approaches and computer graphics techniques. His major solo exhibitions include "PURE" at THE ANZAI GALLERY (Tokyo, 2022) and "GOLEM" at 3331 Arts Chiyoda (Tokyo, 2022).

Keisuke Yoneyama

Born in 1987 in Shizuoka, Japan, he graduated from Tokyo Zokei University in 2010 with a degree in sculpture. After graduation, while working on numerous character designs and prototypes, she sublimated her own deep psychology by transforming her energy toward the imperfection of human existence and the inherent distorted spirituality into decadent aesthetic sculptures. He also has a strong yearning for a higher dimension, feeling his roots in the Shinto, Buddhist and spiritual worlds. His major solo exhibitions include "Keisuke Yoneyama Solo Exhibition" at Span Art Gallery (Tokyo, 2021) and "GOLEM" at 3331 Arts Chiyoda (Tokyo, 2022).

About CONTRAST
In 2022, CONTRAST opened as a creative space in Yoyogi-Hachiman, Tokyo. The interior, based on a 45-year-old structure, consists of three floors under the concept of "reconstruction," and is managed by IN FOCUS, a digital branding studio that operates under the theme of "We propose new perspectives through a collective pursuit of digital excellence.". The space not only serves as its own creative space but also aims to be widely open to the public, providing a space for continuous and experimental reconstruction by its users, breaking free from limitations. Focusing on various forms of expression and encountering the creators who produce them, we will come to understand the importance of "CONTRAST = comparison" in our endeavors. Operated by IN FOCUS.In 2022, CONTRAST opened as a creative space in Yoyogi-Hachiman, Tokyo. The interior, based on a 45-year-old structure, consists of three floors under the concept of "reconstruction," and is managed by IN FOCUS, a digital branding studio that operates under the theme of "We propose new perspectives through a collective pursuit of digital excellence.". The space not only serves as its own creative space but also aims to be widely open to the public, providing a space for continuous and experimental reconstruction by its users, breaking free from limitations. Focusing on various forms of expression and encountering the creators who produce them, we will come to understand the importance of "CONTRAST = comparison" in our endeavors. Operated by IN FOCUS.

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