Special Exhibitions
The schedule might change depending on future circumstances.
Motohiro Tomii: Sculptures

Exhibition period | July 8 - September 3, 2023 |
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Multicolored super balls, sticky notes, colored pencils, paper clips, thumbtacks, origami paper, copy paper, cardboard, hammers, and various other office supplies and tools can be piled up, arranged, stacked, bundled, bent, stood up, laid down, and tilted. By adding such simple everyday actions, Motohiro Tomii (born in 1973) liberates the original meaning and function from ready-made objects and reveals a new aspect as a one-of-a-kind sculpture. forward.
Mass-produced consumer goods are modified from objects to works while retaining their original forms and colors, even though they are stripped of their basic functions by Tomii. This transformation also serves as a metaphor for the process by which individuals are freed from their roles in social systems. In addition, the economic process of production, distribution, consumption, and disposal (death) is neutrally stopped, and the uniqueness of works of art, which have processes of production, exhibition, consumption, and preservation (immortality), is highlighted.
In this way, the activity of the sculptor and the passivity of the viewer are opened in a neutral way, and the museum, home, school, and office emerge as equivalent, non-functional places of freedom. Focusing on the new works by Motohiro Tomii, which convinces anyone of the possibility of becoming a sculptor through a system in which household goods, stationery, and office supplies are transformed into sculptures, and sculptures are returned to the world of life. Along with about 9 series / about 45 items / about 2800 "sculptures", we will explore opportunities to freely release our creativity.
Mass-produced consumer goods are modified from objects to works while retaining their original forms and colors, even though they are stripped of their basic functions by Tomii. This transformation also serves as a metaphor for the process by which individuals are freed from their roles in social systems. In addition, the economic process of production, distribution, consumption, and disposal (death) is neutrally stopped, and the uniqueness of works of art, which have processes of production, exhibition, consumption, and preservation (immortality), is highlighted.
In this way, the activity of the sculptor and the passivity of the viewer are opened in a neutral way, and the museum, home, school, and office emerge as equivalent, non-functional places of freedom. Focusing on the new works by Motohiro Tomii, which convinces anyone of the possibility of becoming a sculptor through a system in which household goods, stationery, and office supplies are transformed into sculptures, and sculptures are returned to the world of life. Along with about 9 series / about 45 items / about 2800 "sculptures", we will explore opportunities to freely release our creativity.
Hours : | 9:30 - 17:00 (last admission 16:30) |
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Closed : | on Mondays and July 18 [open on July 17] |
Admission fee : | Adults: 1000 (900) yen University & high school students: 600 (500) yen Children under 15 (except high school students): Free *You are admitted to the collection galleries with your special exhibition ticket. * ( ) indicate group prices (20 people or more) |
Venue: | Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts, Japan |
Organizer: | Tochigi Prefectural Museum of Fine Arts, Japan |
Cooperation: | Yumiko Chiba Associates |
[Event]
Artist’s Talk at 15:30p.m, on July 8, 2023
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H-shaped Steel and Paper Bag #1 2020 steel, paper bag, bolt, washer and nut photo by Keita Otsuka + Shunta Inaguchi ©Motohiro Tomii, Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates |
mellow 2020 polypropylene made hot water tub, polypropylene made stool, steel, bolt, nut and wood photo by Masaru Yanagiba ©Motohiro Tomii, Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates |
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THOT 2018 bookends, poster designed by Tadao Kawamura and pedestal photo by Masaru Yanagiba ©Motohiro Tomii, Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates |
torso or fried rice #1 2017 lid of trash can, fluorescent lamp and screw photo by Masaru Yanagiba ©Motohiro Tomii, Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates |
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Today’s Sculpture(110908-160908) 2011-2016 digital slideshow (1612 images) and monitor photo by Ki Seulki ©Motohiro Tomii, Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates |
waste paper and space #1-19 2020 waste paper and trash can photo by Masaru Yanagiba ©Motohiro Tomii, Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates |
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art work for travelers #2 2017 suitcase, cloth, wood, bolt, nut, washer and book Photo by Ken Kato ©Motohiro Tomii, Courtesy of Yumiko Chiba Associates |
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