July 2 (Tue) – July 28 (Sun), 2024
Opening hours: 11:00-19:00 (last entry 18:45)
Closed: Mondays (if a public holiday falls on Monday, the gallery is closed the following day)
*An artist talk will take place during the exhibition. Details will be announced as they are finalised. (Only available in Japanese)
＜Exhibition Outline＞
CREATIVE HUB UENO ‘es’ is pleased to present Miki Okazaki’s first solo exhibition, “Me, the Turtle and You”, from July 2nd (Tue) to July 28th (Sun).
The exhibition will feature an omnibus version of the documentary film, “Me, the Turtle, and You”, in which Okazaki followed the Sugawara couple, who lived in Akita City for about a year and a half from June 2022 to December 2023.
The husband, Mutsumi Sugawara, passed away in February 2021 after spending his entire life in a wheelchair due to a cervical vertebrae injury sustained in a birth accident.
The exhibition focuses on the moments of regret and other events surrounding Nozomi, the wife, as well as her relationship with “Inku”, the turtle that appeared after Mutsumi’s death.. The piece brings up sentiments behind life and death, as well as physical and spiritual care. By listening to Mutsumi’s thoughts, learning about his personality, and following his life, the documentary traces a kind of mourning for the dead and prayers for those who were left behind.
＜Artist’s Statement＞
I am interested in themes including “life and death”, “end-of-life care”, and “burial” and wants to connect with people’s intentions and narratives through dialogue and action with others. I mainly focuses on video works.
＜Artist＞
Okazaki Miki
Born in Okayama.
2021 Graduated from the Arts and Roots Department of Akita University of Art
2024 Completed M.F.A., Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of Intermedia Art
Past Exhibitions
2021 Akita University of Art Graduation Exhibition “Heba,”, awarded President’s Encouragement Prize
2023 Akita University of Art 10th Anniversary Exhibition
2024 The 72nd Tokyo University of the Arts Graduation Works Exhibitions
＜Past works＞
“I’m going to put a ‘spell’ on memories and events that are precious but will eventually be forgotten” 2022 Video
I think the main things we think back on in the fleeting instant of our vision at the time of death are memories of turning points in our lives or memories of someone important to us. However, I don’t think, nor do I want to believe, that trivial conversations that don’t appear in the last moment of death are unimportant. The small events and feelings of everyday life are part of who I am now, even if only in a small way. Therefore, I will gather up “memories and events that are important, but will eventually be forgotten” and put a “spell” on them so that I can remember them at a moment’s notice. Episodes from a total of 10 assembled people will be read out loud in the middle of the Tone River. By reading these while in the river, this work attempts to sublimate things into something unforgettable.
“When did we become aware of death?” 2022 Video, Picture book
When did we become aware of death?
When did we realize that our life is finite?
Do we gradually understand it in fragments and recognize it as “death”?
In recognizing death, what did we think about it, and how did we imagine it?
This film questions children under the age of ten about their views on life and death through a picture book created by the artist.
