Tadashi Kawamata on His Reclaimed-Wood Interventions and New Ruinart Commission
Tadashi Kawamata, a Japanese artist hailing from Hokkaido and born in 1953, has been constructing delicate structures using reclaimed materials for more than forty years. His notable installations have appeared at prestigious venues such as the Venice Biennale, Documenta, Centre Pompidou, and Serpentine Gallery. Recently, he unveiled 'Bonsai' at Mennour in Paris and developed three installations—'Tree Hut,' 'Nest,' and a towering six-meter structure—at Maison Ruinart in Reims. Kawamata views his art as a parasite within urban settings, highlighting its ephemeral quality. He gathers images of natural disasters to inspire his functional sculptures. A significant portion of his commissions, one-third, originates from private collectors, architects, and galleries. Future projects are set for Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Taiwan, and Korea.
Key facts
- Tadashi Kawamata is a Japanese artist born in Hokkaido in 1953 and based between Tokyo and Paris.
- His work uses reclaimed timber, discarded furniture and salvaged materials to create nests, tree huts, bridges and towers.
- He has exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Documenta, Centre Pompidou and Serpentine Gallery.
- His recent exhibition 'Bonsai' at Mennour in Paris focused on intimate miniature works.
- Maison Ruinart commissioned three permanent installations at its Reims estate for the Conversations with Nature program.
- The Ruinart commission includes 'Tree Hut,' 'Nest' and a six-meter-high tower with a belvedere.
- Kawamata divides his commissioned projects among private collectors, architects/public projects, and galleries/museums.
- Upcoming projects are in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Taiwan and Korea, plus art fairs in Berlin, Basel, London, Paris, Miami and Tokyo.
Entities
Artists
- Tadashi Kawamata
Institutions
- Mennour
- Maison Ruinart
- Centre Pompidou
- Serpentine Gallery
- Venice Biennale
- Documenta
Locations
- Hokkaido
- Japan
- Tokyo
- Paris
- France
- Reims
- Venice
- Italy
- Berlin
- Germany
- Basel
- Switzerland
- London
- United Kingdom
- Miami
- United States
- Taiwan
- Korea