At the same time as the launch of the Spring/Summer 2022 collection, an installation by sculptor Todo is going on at KUON Flagship Store.
TODO's works are displayed throughout the store, especially in the tatami room in the store is just fantastic.
I'd like to introduce Mr. TODO.
TODO, sculptor
Todo structured his style mainly with various forms of things collected by walking, on the theme of "uniqueness of place.” On the cut fragments from places around the world, Todo embedded glass between them.
"Datekan" (It is arranged for "Sekimori-Ishi"* by collaboration with KUON for this exhibition) *It is a kind of barrier-keeper stone traditionally used in tea houses, shrines and temples in Japan.
"Datekan" stone is extracted from a bedrock that is thought to have been created by volcanic activity about 20 million years(!!) ago. It is cut sparingly and polished with many layers of glass on its cut surface.
The harmony of the brownish iron-oxidized surface, the ebony color of the inside visible by polishing, and the glass changing its color depending on the angle and intensity of the light... it's worth a look!
In addition to the "uniqueness of place", there are always "time" behind TODO's works, such as his work using debris of the former National Stadium that has been destroyed for 2020 Tokyo Olympic games.
Using old books and glass are also his popular works.
As Ishibashi, the designer of KUON is from Iwate Prefecture, Mr.TODO created works using the books of Takuboku Ishikawa and Kenji Miyazawa, who are also from Iwate Prefecture. I can feel Mr. TODO's wonderful thoughtfulness.
Of course, there are more works of TODO in the store, but it is hard for me to introduce all of them here.
"Todo, sculptor" × "Ishibashi, designer"
A photo from the look book of KUON Spring/Summer 2022
The theme of the 2022 Spring/Summer collection is "Colors of Light". The collection was created with a focus on "light," which affects everything we see and everything we don't see.
In order to create a look book and a presentation movie to express this theme, Mr. TODO's works using laminated glass came in the first in Ishibashi's mind. The timing of the offer seemed to be perfect, and we were fortunate to be able to use a few pieces for the shoot. （Thank you for the great support, ART FRONT GALLERY!)
This led Mr. TODO to visit KUON Flagship Store. As Ishibashi talked with Mr. Todo, they discovered that they shared the theme of "time", and they had completely hit it off just in a few minutes(lol).
In about an hour later from TODO's visit, they were talking about doing something together at the launch of the spring/summer collection. After that, they went back and forth to each other's ateliers several times, and decided to hold an installation at the store.
This white pillar was also made to match the store and is already on display, but as Mr. Todo had planned, it blends in so well with the store that even KUON's frequent customers has not notice it.
In addition to the artworks, there are many other playful items lurking around the store for customers to enjoy. Here's just one hint: there are three little pigs hiding in the store... (Pigs are said to be lucky animals in Germany.)
Don't miss this opportunity!!
Thank you.
"On-site works_KUON"
Venue: KUON Flagship Store
Address: 2-15-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, 150-0001 Tokyo, JAPAN
Date: January 28th, 2022 - February 20th, 2022
*Mr. TODO at the venue; January 28th, February 5th, 12th and 20th (TBC）
*Masks and hand sanitization required upon entries. Please note that admission may be restricted depending on the situation.
TODO
There are always stories of "Time" behind Todo's artworks. The artist structured his style centered with various forms of things collected by walking on the theme of "uniqueness of place." The most representative artwork would be the ones he made during his stay in German, and the cutting stone artworks from historical sites in various countries around the world, with polishing and embedding glass between them. The Basalt series uses the lined pillar made of basalt for installation which the artist got inspiration from Joseph Beuys's 7000 oaks and basalt installation that he saw at Documenta 7. Moreover, his book series use books of western philosophy, novel, bible and hymns to create artworks by two methods: inserting glasses between books or solidifying the pages with resin. Todo's works are a combination of what he felt about Western European civilization during his staying at Düsseldorf for more than 10 years, and of Japanese sense of beauty. His recent years after moving back to Japan, Todo is creating artworks using debris from famous building built during high economic growth period in Japan but were destroyed for Olympics, with same techniques. (Reference: ART FRONT GALLERY)
