Nation, Dice, Instruction, – Private View and Artist Talk

Satoshi Hashimoto is currently one of Japan’s most ‘alarming’ artists, producing works of art that make the viewer feel like someone witnessing a traffic accident. By somehow “questioning your stance”, “ignoring you”, “making a contract with you” or “transferring ownership to you”, they transcend social laws and morality and turn you into a participant, not just an observer.

The  current exhibition ‘Nation, Dice, Instruction,’ includes Each Country Was Moved to the Next (2011-2013), a map in which all the world’s countries and territories are shifted by one position, in line with the concept, purchased from an anonymous third party, of “shifting everything one place”.  Photograph by Photographer (Art Market, Photographer): Bodybuilder (2014) is an image of a heavyweight bodybuilder taking photos of an art fair, including a mirror in which he himself is reflected. The show includes other works such as Dice of the Flag and One in three people is Chinese or Indian.

Every work has strong links to the ‘Nation’, ‘Dice’ and ‘Instruction’ of the title.  For example, in Each Country Was Moved to the Next, the portrayal of the relationship between a country and its territory by moving the country next door is related to ‘Nation’, following the concept of an ‘anonymous third party’ is related to ‘Instruction’, and using a die to decide the new location is related to ‘Dice’.

‘Nation, Dice, Instruction,’, effectively conveys the meaning of Hashimoto’s activities, if each element of the title is taken as a symbol. “Instruction” symbolises an exchange of demands with others, including viewers, ‘Nation’ is a symbol of the political nature of that interaction, and ‘Dice’ is a symbol of the uncertain nature of the exchange.

Exhibition dates: 25 September – 18 October 2014, Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 5pm

*Special Frieze opening: 18 October 2014 (10am – 5pm)

Please note that these events are held on the same evening but require separate bookings. 

About the contributors

Satoshi Hashimoto

Satoshi Hashimoto (born in 1977) has recently exhibited in Can’t Go, Please Come (2010, ARCUS), More of an activity (2010, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art), ‘Sell Me Your Concept’ in India (2011, India), Omnilogue: JOURNEY TO THE WEST (2012, Lalit Kara Academy, New Delhi), Arbitrary Decisions and Prejudices: I Divide the Audience（2012, The National Art Center, Tokyo), You fill in ‘***.’ (provisionally) (2012, blanClass), False name（14 EVENINGS, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo), I was Leonardo da Vinci. I sell my soul. I sell heaven（2013, AOYAMA | MEGURO) and Photographer (Art Market, Photographer): Bodybuilder (2014, Art Fair Tokyo).