Artists
TOMOKO TAKAHASHI
Not-So-Free-Cycle made by the Thames, found and dragged out by T2 on 28th September 2008, 2008
Takahashi's installations have been described as organised chaos. Each work is triggered by her response to a particular site or personal situations. Takahashi takes the entire space into account. She develops an internal logic which she uses to order and compose objects within this designated space.
A collector of the most obsessive nature, she is highly selective when hunting for materials for her work. Objects are chosen for their intended functions, others are chosen to help highlight and animate different aspects and ideas within the work. The resulting installations are like complex three dimensional collages, where the gallery serves as both the artist's studio and a viewing space.
The use of every day and discarded objects as viable artistic material has recurred throughout the 20th Century and has its roots in the work of pivotal artists such as Kurt Schwitters, particularly his Merzbau, 1923-37. Tomoko Takahashi continues this tradition and through her work challenges the viewer to see the world differently.
Tomoko Takahashi was born in Tokyo. Her work Drawing Room, 1998 is currently being exhibited at Tate Modern as part of its permanent collection. She has had solo shows at Hales Gallery, London (2007), The Mead Gallery, Warwickshire (2006), Serpentine Gallery, London (2005), UCLA Hammer Museum, LA (2002) and the Kunsthalle Bern (2002). In 2000 she was nominated for the Turner Prize.
A collector of the most obsessive nature, she is highly selective when hunting for materials for her work. Objects are chosen for their intended functions, others are chosen to help highlight and animate different aspects and ideas within the work. The resulting installations are like complex three dimensional collages, where the gallery serves as both the artist's studio and a viewing space.
The use of every day and discarded objects as viable artistic material has recurred throughout the 20th Century and has its roots in the work of pivotal artists such as Kurt Schwitters, particularly his Merzbau, 1923-37. Tomoko Takahashi continues this tradition and through her work challenges the viewer to see the world differently.
Tomoko Takahashi was born in Tokyo. Her work Drawing Room, 1998 is currently being exhibited at Tate Modern as part of its permanent collection. She has had solo shows at Hales Gallery, London (2007), The Mead Gallery, Warwickshire (2006), Serpentine Gallery, London (2005), UCLA Hammer Museum, LA (2002) and the Kunsthalle Bern (2002). In 2000 she was nominated for the Turner Prize.