Phillips just opened its new Asian headquarters in the West Kowloon Cultural District in March, coinciding with the spring auction season. At the time of the opening, a selection of curated items were showcased. Starting this month, Phillips is presenting the world’s first joint exhibition of Yayoi Kusama and Chiharu Shiota titled “(Re)Trace Kusama to Shiota,” marking a successful debut for the new space!
This exhibition brings together over 40 selected masterpieces by two of the most renowned contemporary Japanese female artists, Yayoi Kusama and Chiharu Shiota. Some of these artworks include a collection loaned by Mr. Junli Peng, the founder of ARTICKS and a collector from Hong Kong. This exclusive museum-level collection of Chiharu Shiota’s works is the largest and most complete series ever publicly displayed in Hong Kong. This is a rare opportunity!
One of the highlights to look out for is definitely the artwork “State of Survival (Skirt)” by Chiharu Shiotani. The strong red tones in the artwork evoke organic forms and blood vessels. Shiotani often incorporates everyday items such as clothes and shoes into complex artistic compositions, connecting them with red threads to imply the interconnectedness between humans, objects, and each other. The artwork measures approximately 260 cm in height and 180 cm in width, making it the artist’s first large-scale installation piece with a skirt theme exhibited in Hong Kong. Seeing it in person will be even more visually stunning.
Another highlight is Yayoi Kusama’s work “Six Guests” created in 1986. Compared to Kusama’s other works, this piece is more poetic. In the striped sculpture filled with red polka dots, flowers seem to extend from the table and chairs, surrounded by bowls, teapots, fresh flowers, and pineapples. Fresh flowers are an important source of inspiration for Yayoi Kusama, bringing a light and feminine atmosphere to the arrangement.
Another recurring theme in Yayoi Kusama’s works is polka dots. Kusama herself has struggled with hallucinations and illusions, and she attempts to express these in her works. When you observe her works up close, you can feel the artist’s struggle, but the finished creations also show her overcoming this fear and threat to some extent.
Another highlight is Yayoi Kusama’s “I Sing the Body Electric” painted in 2009, which is also the precursor to her “My Eternal Soul” series of paintings on square canvases that she started in the same year. This work has been exhibited by the artist in London and Brisbane, Australia, and is now one of the focal points of the Yayoi Kusama retrospective exhibition currently taking place at M+.
The artwork “肌膚” by artist Chihiro Shiotani, presented in this exhibition, is a rare canvas piece that cleverly captures the essence of Shiotani’s iconic works. The artist’s skillful use of woven threads gives the artwork its unique three-dimensional space, making it a piece that is both sculpture and canvas.
The exhibition is now officially open, where you can appreciate the works of these two famous artists and exchange their stories about the essence of life in the same space. Remember to seize this rare opportunity, art enthusiasts!
“(Re)Trace Kusama to Shiota” Exhibition
Date: From now until April 30, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Fosun Foundation Asia, G/F West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Building, 8 Museum Drive, West Kowloon, Hong Kong
Image source and learn more: Phillips Asia
