Yoko Terauchi's Minimalist Installation 'One is Many Many is One' at Hagiwara Projects

Yoko Terauchi's installation 'One is Many Many is One' (2023) transforms the white walls of Hagiwara Projects in Tokyo with a continuous red paper band. Running at head height, this frieze-like element features an undulating line of alternating holes that reveal the gallery wall behind. The work's apparent simplicity masks its conceptual complexity: the multiple holes result from a single cone cut into the rolled paper. A plaster cast of this excised cone hangs nearby, revealing the process like a magician showing their trick. Terauchi accompanies the installation with a poem exploring themes of oneness and division, suggesting connections to Buddhist teachings while remaining firmly material. The artist's approach creates perceptual tension, leaving viewers slightly off balance despite the work's elegant minimalism. Everything needed to understand the piece is contained within its title and construction, yet it fundamentally challenges how we perceive our surroundings. The exhibition ran from November 1 to December 2, 2023.