For their first UK exhibition, Japanese artists KOSUGE1-16 will create a playful installation at mac birmingham, leading from the ground floor to the first floor gallery space. This family friendly work will draw on mac birmingham’s history as both an arts and sports centre, and as a theatre for experimental puppetry.
Part sculpture, part puppet THE PLAYMAKERS will be produced with local children to present an artwork activated by its audience.
KOSUGE1-16 is comprised of artists Chishino Kurumada and Takashi Tsuchiya. The name KOSUGE1-16 is derived from the address, a suburb in Tokyo where the duo started their community based activities. Kosuge is an old town where you can still find ‘mochitsu motaretsu’, a Japanese idea of ‘give and take’ relationships. Exchanges between residents are quite frequent, with thoughtful interventions such as home-made meals being left in the artists’ mailbox. KOSUGE1-16 use this exchange as the basis for their projects, conveying the sentiment behind it through art.
The artists will be in residence throughout June during which time they will work with local children to make components of the exhibition.
Curated by Debbie Kermode and Kaye Winwood, with support from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and the Japan Foundation.
This truly exciting exhibition will launch mac birmingham’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Gallery opening times
Tue – Sat 12noon – 8pm; Sun 11am – 4pm; Closed Mon (exc. Bank Holiday, open 12noon – 8pm) | Free entry