The OFS gallery, located inside OUR FAVOURITE SHOP in Shirokane, Tokyo, will be hosting the Jonas Mekas exhibition "DEAR JONAS MEKAS" from May 11th to June 13th.



Jonas Mekas, a refugee, poet, filmmaker, editor, entrepreneur, and activist known as the "godfather of American experimental film," was born in the small Lithuanian village of Semenishkei on December 24th, 1922. Soon after, during World War II, which began in 1939, he was pursued by the Nazis and escaped Lithuania with his brother Adolfus. He then traveled around Europe before settling in New York in 1949. He began capturing everyday scenes after purchasing a 16mm Bolex camera, and produced numerous masterpieces known as film diaries, including "Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania" (1972), earning him worldwide recognition. In 1989, he founded Anthology Film Archives, a preservation and exhibition venue for experimental film and other classics from around the world. Known for his wide network of connections in the cultural scene, he hosted an auction in 2017 to expand the facility, which attracted works by artists such as Wim Wenders and Ai Weiwei, and hosted a performance by Patti Smith. He passed away on January 23rd of this year at the age of 96. This exhibition will explore the appeal of Jonas Mekas through events featuring artist Shinji Ishii and screenings of his 16mm films "Paradise Not Lost, or Oona's Three Years Old" and "The Education of Sebastian, or Return to Egypt." 」 English: "After a chance encounter in New York the day before 9/11, I would occasionally visit her home and studio in Brooklyn. Even though I had never written poetry, Jonas introduced me to her friends as a poet from Japan. Jonas's work is broad, deep, and grand. He has many Japanese friends who he has known longer than I have, and he has published many books. But Jonas was also the founder of independent film, and more of a punk than any young person, and he likes small things rather than big things. So I'm sure he would welcome a private exhibition that I would create with my friends from my perspective. I can hear Jonas's voice telling me to 'Go Ahead!'" (Okamoto Rei)