The theme of Kei Imazu’s “Plates and Clothes” is based on Julian Schnabel’s “St. Francis in Ecstasy” and Anselm Kiefer’s “The Hierarchy of the Angels” (Die Oldnung der Engel).

“Plates and Clothes” Kei Imazu

“St. Francis in Ecstasy” is used for dishes, and “The Hierarchy of the Angels (Die Oldnung der Engel)” is used for clothing at work. The dishes and clothing used in this artwork are belong to Sylvanian. Even in small sizes, each artwork has expressed the strength of the material like in the reality.

“Deadpan” Masanao Hirayama

Masanao Hirayama’s “Deadpan” is based on Steve McQueen’s video work ”Deadpan”. In “Deadpan” by Masanao Hirayama, the scenes before the collapsing of walls are regenerated by the doll house and miniature dolls from the beginning of the original work.

“Deadpan” Masanao Hirayama

In the doll house, images are shown by a projector. People have facial expressions, but Sylvanian miniature dolls are “expressionless”. In this sense, this artwork as “Deadpan” may be more meaningful than the original artwork under a person subject.

This imaginary exhibition is considered impossible due to time and cost constraints. Gallery “Sylvanian Family” created this exhibition, it consisted of dreams and ideals unique to miniature size of artists. Although the size may be small, it was a planned exhibition that felt the dream and passion of the artist who can not fit in the work.

Sylvanian Families Biennale 2017
Date: January 22nd – February 19th, 2017
Closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Place: XYZ Collective
Address: B02, 2-13-4 Sugamo, Toyoshima-ku, Tokyo
Curator: Kenji Ide
Artists: Hirofumi Isoya, Kenji Ide, Kei Imaz, Ryohei Usui, Yui Usui, Hiraki Ono, Masaya Chiba, FM (Daisuke Fukunaga & Soshiro Matsubara), Yosuke Bandai, Masanao Hirayama, Tatsuo Maxima, Masahiro Wada, Workstation
Supported by AOYAMA|MEGURO, ShugoArts, TARONASU, Tomio Koyama gallery, Mujin-to Production, Yamamoto Gendai
http://xyzcollective.org