Mika Tajima's 'Regulation' Exhibition Explores Technocapitalist Control Through Sculpture and Painting
Mika Tajima's solo show titled 'Regulation' is currently on display at Simon Lee in London until 8 May 2021. The artist, based in New York, delves into the theme of control within technocapitalist frameworks through various pieces, including Anima (2020–), Pranayama (2017–), Art d’Ameublement paintings, and Negative Entropy (2012–). Her works feature glass sculptures, rose-quartz rock crystals, and Jacquard-woven canvases derived from audio recordings of industrial environments and meditation practices. Tajima addresses self-care in the context of technocapitalism, referencing Google's meditation spaces. While her art reflects control, it also opens up avenues for energy regulation, drawing on concepts from meditation and Buddhism. The exhibition faced delays due to regulations, a point acknowledged by Tajima, who also alludes to philosopher Byung-Chul Han's idea of being 'too alive to die and too dead to live.'
Key facts
- Mika Tajima's solo exhibition 'Regulation' is at Simon Lee, London until 8 May 2021
- The exhibition features series including Anima (2020–), Pranayama (2017–), Art d’Ameublement, and Negative Entropy (2012–)
- Art d’Ameublement paintings are subtitled with uninhabitable island names like Isla Juan Bautista and Karake
- Negative Entropy works derive from audio field-recordings of industrial sites, meditation sessions, and construction calisthenics
- Tajima discusses integration of self-care into technocapitalism, citing Google's meditation rooms
- The exhibition was delayed due to regulations, adding irony to themes of control
- Philosopher Byung-Chul Han is referenced regarding overabundance of positivity
- The Art d’Ameublement series references Erik Satie's 1917 'furniture music'
Entities
Artists
- Mika Tajima
- Erik Satie
Institutions
- Simon Lee
Locations
- New York
- London
- United Kingdom
- Isla Juan Bautista
- Karake