Yuko Mohri to Represent Japan at 60th Venice Biennale with Water-Themed Installation
Yuko Mohri is set to showcase her work at the 60th Venice Biennale, taking place from 20 April to 24 November 2024, within the Japan Pavilion. Her exhibition will feature two pieces centered around the water theme, inspired by curator Sook-kyung Lee's concept of 'soft and weak like water.' Mohri has gathered materials from the local area in Venice, effectively transforming the pavilion into her creative workspace. The pavilion, which was constructed in 1956 by Takamasa Yoshizaka, presents unique challenges due to its marble flooring and ceiling openings. This marks the first instance of a foreign curator leading the Japan Pavilion, as Mohri invited Lee. During her visits to Venice in summer 2023 and early 2024, she observed flood damage and expressed concerns about Japan's cultural administration's disregard for contemporary art.
Key facts
- Yuko Mohri represents Japan at the 60th Venice Biennale from 20 April to 24 November 2024.
- The Japan Pavilion is located in the Giardini and was designed in 1956 by Takamasa Yoshizaka.
- Mohri is showing two water-themed works, with materials sourced locally in Venice.
- Curator Sook-kyung Lee, artistic director of the 2023 Gwangju Biennale, is the first 'foreigner' to curate the Japan Pavilion.
- Mohri spent time in Venice in summer 2023 and early 2024, observing 2019 flood damage.
- She cites influences from artists Nam June Paik, Takehisa Kosugi, and Shigeko Kubota.
- Mohri's work involves electrical parts from Akihabara, Tokyo, with origins in post-World War II black markets.
- She looks forward to seeing Trevor Yeung's representation of Hong Kong at the Biennale.
Entities
Artists
- Yuko Mohri
- Sook-kyung Lee
- Laozi
- Takamasa Yoshizaka
- Le Corbusier
- Nam June Paik
- Takehisa Kosugi
- Shigeko Kubota
- Trevor Yeung
Institutions
- ArtReview
- Venice Biennale
- Japan Pavilion
- Gwangju Biennale
- International Architecture Exhibition
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Giardini
- Japan
- Korea
- Gwangju
- China
- Taiwan
- Tokyo
- Akihabara
- New York
- Hong Kong
- Korean Peninsula