» Concept:
The artificial flowers customarily offered in cemeteries in sunny Guam, Mexico, and Saipan serve as the motif of the exhibition. Under the intense sunlight, the brilliantly colored flowers appear to be full of life – as if they were real. The overpowering colors of the flowers leave an impression that cannot be expressed as merely cute or pretty; instead, they exude a sense of the drama between life and death. While Ninagawa’s photos are devoid of people, the flowers offer a sense of consciousness that allows us to glimpse life in other lands through the eternally living flowers given to the dead. Since she first encountered this motif in 2000, Mika Ninagawa has been more enchanted by these everlasting flowers. We hope that you enjoy the opportunity to view the twenty large and over sixty smaller works that are to be displayed.
Shogakkan is publishing a 120-page catalogue of works from Everlasting Flowers in time for the exhibition. (Size: 270mm x 190mm.) Copies will be on sale from November 10th and cost 3,885 yen (tax included). In addition to the exhibition at the Tomio Koyama Gallery, the exhibition Everlasting Flowers 1 will be held at Tokyo Wonder Site in Shibuya from November 11th until the 26th.