#1 INVESTIGATION (Project Ephemeral), by Takayuki Matsuo

Date: Sunday June 30, 2019
Hours: 1- 4 pm (rain or shine)
Location: Around 6th and 2nd Ave. Brooklyn
https://goo.gl/maps/zLZBHCFh8uPwr9v98

Please join us for INVESTIGATION – Project Ephemeral, the first of four monthly interventions led by the RU artist Takayuki Matsuo in outdoor spaces. On June 30, from 1- 4 pm Matsuo will hold an exhibition that is a recorded section of daily life by drawing a white line on a disappearing road sign – White Line -, by documenting found objects on site – Natural Artifacts -, and examining color of painted wall – Color Chart -. Each proceeding is ruled by this question: “How can I record information of things that can be recognized and restored by future generations or others?”

Project Ephemeral is a series of four one-day exhibitions held between June and September 2019 in non white cube locations such as abandoned buildings, streets of New York, roadsides and vacant lots. Following a set of self-assigned rules, Matsuo investigates, cleans, restores, preserves and archives “the modest thing that is already in there”. Matsuo does not claim these actions as artistic ones but as every day gestures that viewers who happen to be on the spot will interpret as a mirage or a total solar eclipse.

Images from Investigation #1

About the artist:
Takayuki Matsuo takes his inspiration from collecting found objects mainly from the street. His practice is shaped by the concept of “the usefullness of the uselessness” borrowed from ancient Chinese philosophy. Matsuo thinks of the value of things through “natural artifacts” that are being naturalized by losing their original function due to aging and external factors. His goal is to maximize their potential and eliminate ego and subjective action in the creative process as much as possible. His artistic approach is influenced by various sources including Wajiro Kon (”Modern archeology” ) through to Genpei Akasegawa (“Street Observation”) and Japanese contemporary art.

Takayuki Matsuo’s residency and this program are made possible with the support from Qualix Inc.