Mori Art Museum's 'Catastrophe and the Power of Art' Examines Disaster Through 40 Artists

Between October 6, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo hosted an exhibition titled 'Catastrophe and the Power of Art,' showcasing the work of 40 artists. This display explored how art reacts to significant disasters, including the events of 9/11, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and the global financial crisis. Notable pieces included Thomas Hirschhorn's 'Collapse' (2014), Miroslaw Balka's 'Soap Corridor' (1993/2018), and Takeda Shimpei's 'Trace' series (2011). Additionally, Wolfgang Staehle's 'Untitled (09–11–2001)' (2001) and Hirakawa Kota's 'Black colour timer' (2016–17) were part of the collection. The latter part of the exhibition emphasized reconstruction, featuring Shigeru Ban's 'Scale Model of Transitional Cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand' (2011) and Yoko Ono's 'Add Color Painting (Refugee Boat)' (1960/2016).