Nobuaki Takekawa, Direct Appeal to the Emperor on the Issue of Mineral Poisoning, 2024, Acrylic on canvas, 162 x 130.3 cm ©Nobuaki Takekawa, Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts Singapore/ Tokyo/ Shanghai
“Flush with Water” is a solo exhibition by Japanese artist Nobuaki Takekawa (b. 1977, Japan). This exhibition is a survey of Takekawa’s artistic footsteps following his 2011 solo exhibition that looked into the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident. Since then, Takekawa has actively participated in the new wave of civic movements that have emerged from anti-nuclear demonstrations in Japan.
Making its exhibition debut is the character “Heart”, marching in colourful costumes and beating drums. The Hearts stand against the social system of differential treatment based on ranking, and a lively tone exudes from the paintings and drawings. It is a beat that corresponds to the sound of the heart, as well as a beat that vibrates and echoes loudly, as if it were a declaration of their presence, in response to the power that ignores the existence of problems, and the weak as if they are not there.
The cat motifs that Takekawa has come to be known for makes an appearance in this exhibition as well. Under their adorable expressions are themes of social problems from the past that are connected to contemporary society. In this exhibition, the cats are painted in scenes that look at the major strains in society that have been created during the course of scientific and technological development and rapid modernization, such as the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station issue, and the Ashio Copper Mine poisoning incident.
The title of this exhibition, “Flush with Water”, is a Japanese idiom that means to pretend that the unmanageable past never happened. The Ashio Copper Mine has a history of discharging mine pollution into the Watarase River, and to protect Tokyo’s water from pollution, villages in affected areas were abandoned as waterways were built to contain the pollution there. Even till today, the coal mine polluted water continues to flow. It can never be said that “nothing happened”, and we must beat the drum and make noise.
Venue: Ota Fine Arts, 7 Lock Road, #02-13 Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108935
When: 16 Mar - 11 May 2024, 11am - 7pm Tuesday to Saturday
By: Ota Fine Arts
