"Painting and Weaving: Yohji Yamamoto and Yuka Asakura" opened at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery on December 10th and will run until March 12th next year.

A preview was held on the 9th, the day before the opening, and Yohji Yamamoto was in attendance. He spoke about his thoughts on the exhibition as follows: "With the world facing such dire circumstances—abnormal weather, Britain's departure from the EU, and a new American president—we can't just focus on fashion. I thought art was the only way to connect the world. The only thing that can do something about the dire situation the world, and Japan in particular, is the power of our fingers, our sense of style, our technique, and soft power—in other words, art. I wanted young people to see that a man who has been making clothes for over 40 years, and who must be tired, is still working hard, and I wanted to tell them to stand up too."

The exhibition features unreleased works by Yamamoto, including paintings on canvas and paper, glass works, folding screens, and sculptures, as well as sculptures and works by Asakura, a painter currently studying for a doctoral degree at Joshibi University of Art and Design and who has been collaborating with Yohji Yamamoto on the Paris collections for both men's and women's shows for several seasons. The exhibition also features works by the two artists, including solo works, collaborative works, and clothing created through their collaboration. The 16-meter-wide, 6-meter-high window panes at the entrance and the back of the venue were also painted in one go just before the preview. Yamamoto and Asakura jointly decided everything, from the layout to the composition. They even included Yamamoto's voice in the music playing throughout the venue, and even used emergency light symbols evocative of Yamamoto himself, paying particular attention to every detail. While they had been preparing for the exhibition, they were installed in various locations, including their home and studio, after the Spring/Summer collection wrapped in October. The exhibit features over 20 of Yamamoto's works, including paintings and sculptures he began working on in the morning, as well as works on glass and folding screens. The exhibit also features over 70 paintings selected from Asakura's collections and collaborative works. The painting of the man in military uniform depicts Asakura's father, who died in the war, and will be moved to various locations within the venue during the exhibition. Furthermore, collaborative works shown at Paris Fashion Week, such as the shirt Asakura painted at the show just before the Paris Collection and the red dress from Spring/Summer 2016, are adorned on bodies and driftwood evocative of Yamamoto. The unexpectedness of this exhibition, which is not primarily a clothing-focused retrospective, seems to emphasize its purpose. The exhibit also features sketches, artworks in which Yamamoto has painted over his own photographs, and clothing for Yohji Yamamoto +NOIR that incorporates these works. Regarding his collaboration with Asakura, Yamamoto said, "His drawings were incredible from the first time he helped me with the men's collection. A piece of clothing depicting a skeleton bathing was a big hit, and I don't have the kind of power of a message that requires specialized training. However, this was a chance encounter. There are many young people who want to work with me, but I don't select people through interviews." He continued, "It was tough. Fashion is a team effort, so designers can say whatever they want. But with art, you have to even clean your brushes yourself. While I was painting, I thought, 'A person who's just succeeded in fashion? You're kidding me!' So I took it seriously. To convey my message that the world is crazy, I want to continue working not only with painting, but also with various art forms, theater, and film. I want to continue making changes as long as I live. I also want to hold a secret live concert next year." Their future activities, collections, and collaborations are sure to attract attention.

[Exhibition Information]
"Painting and Weaving: Yamamoto Yohji & Asakura Yuka"
Venue: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
Address: 3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Dates: December 10th - March 12th 2017
Time: 11:00 - 19:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: 1,200 yen for adults, 800 yen for high school and university students, free for junior high school students and younger