Transpacific Connections: Ken Okiishi & Taro Furukata in Conversation

Raised on opposite sides of the Pacific but with roots in Hiroshima, American artist Ken Okiishi and Japanese artist Taro Furukata come together in conversation with the curator to discuss the legacies of the Asia Pacific War in their art practice and daily lives. Their distinctive approaches to the past bring forth the juxtaposition of an unexpected intimacy with a hard edged political critique of the official narratives of the time period—Okiishi’s approach is through the lens of family and oral history, while Furukata approaches US-Japan propaganda from a research-based standpoint. The curator will lead the conversation between the artists, highlighting the nuances of their respective artistic approaches in relation to the exhibition theme at large. The talk will be followed by a Q&A.

This program is in conjunction with KANTEN 観展: The Limits of History, on view at apexart, 291 Church St., New York, NY 10013 from March 24 - May 20, 2023

EVENT DETAILS

Saturday April 22, 2023 - 3:00p - 5:00p EST at apexart, 291Church St, New York, NY 10013

BIOS

Ken Okiishi is a fourth generation Japanese American artist born in 1978 in Ames, Iowa. He currently lives and works in New York and Berlin. Recent solo exhibitions include: A Model Childhood, The Art Gallery, University of Hawai’i (2022), Pilar Corrias, London (2019) and Reena Spaulings, Fine Art, Los Angeles (2018). Okiishi’s most recent film, Vital Behaviors, had its US premiere at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 2021.

Taro Furukata was born in Okayama, Japan, in 1975, and received a BFA (1999) and MFA (2001) at Hiroshima City University, and a BFA (2009) from the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin. He currently lives and works in Hiroshima. Recent exhibitions include his solo show The Invisible Commemorative Building, THE POOL, Hiroshima (2022) and Each Day Begins with the Sun Rising, Benton Museum of Art, Claremont (2022).

IMAGE

Taro Furukata, The Perfect Hug, 2018, video installation (still)

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Apexart, 291 Church Street, New York, United States