Self Sufficient Life: A solo exhibition by Shiro Masuyama
Exhibition Opening: Friday 2 October, 7-9 pm*
3 October – 25 November
Artist Talk: Saturday 10 October, 2-3 pm
*Free Bus leaves Belfast (golden thread gallery) at 6.30pm on 2 October. Leaves Portadown (to return to Belfast) at 9pm. For more information or to book a place contact geraldine@millenniumcourt.org
A new 68 page publication coincides with the exhibition, with essays by Jun Yang and Slavka Sverakova.
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Millennium Court Arts Centre is delighted to present ‘Self Sufficient Life’ a new solo exhibition by Shiro Masuyama.
This exhibition is the culmination of 3 international projects undertaken between 2012 and 2015 in Ireland, Peru and Mongolia documenting the artist’s search for self-sufficient models of living. He looks at the connections between farming animals for their wool/hair, the traditional place-specific techniques of producing fabric and clothing from these raw materials, and the cultures and societies in each of these different geographical contexts. The locations and landscapes in this series of works vary wildly, between rural Ireland to rural Peru and Mongolia which present more remote and self-sufficient environments. In each place the artist learns to shear an animal – sheep in Ireland, alpaca in Peru and camels in Mongolia – attempts to spin wool, knit and weave to produce an item of clothing or functional object.
Masuyama’s approach is collaborative and the work is shaped by the specific materials, skills, knowledge and energies of people in each place. The work is executed with characteristic humour and motivated by genuine inquiry. Ultimately the processes and dialogues involved in creating the three objects become central to each project.
Masuyama cites the 2011 Fukushima disaster, the resulting shockwaves through Japanese society and the implications of nuclear power for the future global energy landscape, both as prompting a significant shift in his own outlook and as a catalyst for this project, and its central theme of self sufficiency.
‘Self Sufficient Life’ is supported by funding from Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Funding; Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council; and The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. The publication is supported through funding from the Japan Foundation.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Born in Tokyo, 1971, Shiro Masuyama has been based in Belfast since 2010. His work ranges from performance to sculpture, installation, photography and video and tends towards themes of people, society and place. Since 2002 he has worked nomadically, taking part in numerous international residencies including MMCA – National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea, The National Art Studio Goyang (2008) ; IMMA – Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin (2006) ; Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (2004-2005) and ISCP – International Studio and Curatorial Programme, New York. He has received awards for his work including most recently; General Arts Awards, Arts Council of Northern Ireland (2014); Individual Artist’s Award, Derry-Londonderry City of Culture (2013). He has exhibited work in many group exhibitions including “Aichi Triennale 2013”, Nagoya, Japan and solo exhibitions at numerous international venues including Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, Ireland (2014); Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton (2012); Gallery αM, Tokyo (2011); Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast (2011). He has just completed a public art commission entitled “Five Apples” in Ballymena, Northern Ireland (2015).
