"Private Utopia: A Place Exclusive to Here," an exhibition showcasing British contemporary art from the collection of the London-based international cultural exchange organization, will be held at Tokyo Station Gallery in Marunouchi from January 18 to March 9. The exhibition features approximately 120 paintings, photographs, videos, and sculptures by approximately 30 artists, including works being shown in Japan for the first time and works by Turner Prize-winning artists. One of the highlights is Elizabeth Price's video work, "The Woolworths Choir, 1979," which won the Turner Prize in 2012, the most prestigious award in British contemporary art. This work, shown in Japan for the first time, superimposes footage of witnesses to the 1979 Manchester fire disaster, highlighting social conventions. Also on display will be numerous works by the YBAs (Young British Artists) generation, a group that has led the British contemporary art world since the 1990s. Works on display include "Sister Troop," an abstract depiction of an American cheerleader by Gary Hume, and "I'm Dead," a stuffed dog holding a placard by David Shrigley, who was nominated for the 2013 Turner Prize. The British Council is a public British organization for international cultural exchange, established in 1934. It houses an art collection of approximately 9,000 pieces and plays a role in promoting British art around the world. This is the first time the entire collection has come to Japan in nearly half a century.
The exhibition will travel to Itami City Museum of Art (April 12th to May 25th), Kochi Museum of Art (November 2nd to December 21st), and Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art (January 9th to February 22nd, 2015).
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[Event Information]
Private Utopia: An Exclusive Place
Current British Art as Seen in the British Council Collection
Venue: Tokyo Station Gallery
Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Dates: January 18th to March 9th
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays)
Admission: 900 yen, high school and university students 700 yen, elementary and junior high school students 400 yen
Closed: Mondays