September 4th to October 2nd, Thur-Sat, 14:00-18:00
Commencement: Sat, September 4th, 17:00-22:00
@The Institute for Endotic Research
TIER.space, Donaustr. 84, 12043 Berlin
http://theinstituteforendoticresearch.org
Body moves. Weather shifts. I go with the flow and leave the traces.
I made soap from used oil collected from various restaurants, the leftover which once supported our lives. I drew a picture outside with it. The rain washed it away. I drew again. With the process, I tried to capture the dialogs between material and environment, functionality and non-functionality, permanence and impermanence.
Some scientists say if human creates a life-form, it would begin with a piece of soap. I made creatures with the soap I made. They are sculpture-like, and yet drawing-like, holding various traces—of gaining forms, of evolution that is yet to see. I call them “Manonamanamono”. The name suggests something raw and ephemeral, created or emerged at the time at the place. Between the traces, I see a dialog of organic and inorganic matter.
I move with soap and leave the traces.
bio
Born in Japan, Junko Maruyama currently lives and works in Berlin. Having studied sculpture in the City University of New York, Hunter Collage, the artist works across various medias such as drawing, sculpture, installation, performance and animation. Her works examines the notions of circulation and rebirth, often recycled materials, in particular fluid and variable materials such as ice cream, plastics and soap. By circulating the different states of matters of materials, the artist explores the existence and non-existence of the borders in between.
She has shown her works in various exhibitions such as Alive and (Gallery Paris, Yokohama) 2021; A Story Begins from Flowers and the Sea (Kodomo Museum, Chiba) 2020; Bunkamura Gallery Selection (Bunkamura Gallery, Tokyo) 2019; Re: (F1969, Busan) 2018; Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale (Hoshitouge, Niigata) 2015, 2006; 5 rooms(Kanagawa prefectural Hall Gallery, Kanagawa) 2016, among many. Her notable awards and achievements include Free Art Free Semi-Grand Prix, Charitable Trust Oki Memorial Artist Grant, Taipei/Yokohama Artist Exchange Program Judge Special Award, Asahi Shimbun Cultural Foundation Grant, and Arts and Culture grant from Nomura Foundation.
She is currently working at Kunstlerhaus Bethanien for international residency program, with the support by Overseas Study Program for Artists Fellow, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan.
Used Oil Supported by goldies, Han West, TSUTSU, Langano, Dakwahl
Special Thanks to Kunstlerhaus Bethanien
Junko Maruyama