ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Richard Hawkins Exhibition at Empty Gallery Explores Butoh Founder Tatsumi Hijikata

exhibition · 2026-04-19

Richard Hawkins's exhibition "The Garden of Loved Ones" at Hong Kong's Empty Gallery featured collages, videos, and sculptures focused on Tatsumi Hijikata, the founder of Japanese Butoh dance. The presentation created an intense atmosphere described as simultaneously nightmarish and erotic. Hijikata's ashen, convulsing body appeared throughout the artworks, reflecting Hawkins's long-standing fascination with the dance pioneer. The exhibition immersed visitors in a fever dream-like experience through its multimedia approach. Hawkins's work centered on Hijikata's physicality and the visceral nature of Butoh performance. The show presented a comprehensive exploration of this artistic obsession through various media forms.

Key facts

  • Richard Hawkins had an exhibition titled "The Garden of Loved Ones"
  • The exhibition was held at Empty Gallery in Hong Kong
  • The show featured collages, videos, and sculptures
  • The works centered on Tatsumi Hijikata, founder of Japanese Butoh dance
  • Hijikata's ashen, convulsing body appeared throughout the artworks
  • Hawkins has a long-standing obsession with Hijikata
  • The exhibition created an atmosphere described as nightmarish and erotic
  • The experience was compared to stumbling into a fever dream

Entities

Artists

  • Richard Hawkins
  • Tatsumi Hijikata

Institutions

  • Empty Gallery

Locations

  • Hong Kong
  • Japan

Sources