yukaotani www.yukaotani.com
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artist statement My work creates a membrane that shifts viewer’s perception in physical and cognitive spaces.Through the lenses of phenomenological and sociological studies, I explore clear materials; primarily glass, water, melted sugar, and light. Those materials are indeterminate and elusive. They are poised for change. My interest for materials that shift from one state to other state comes from my earlier experience with economic bubbles and glass bubbles. I spent my adolescence in Japan in the 1990’s, when the immense Japanese economic bubble burst after the peak of its inflation. What seemed to be stable yesterday is not stable today–this drastic shift in social value system was branded on my memory as a strong feeling of changeability. As one of my artistic practices, I have been trained as a glassblower for a long time. My activity in a glass shop was a never-ending succession of making bubbles and breaking them. Eventually, I was determined to utilize the volatility of those physical and social bubbles in my work, rather than being afraid of them. Transparency and fluidity becomes important keywords in my studio practice. I juggle with vulnerability and unstableness during the creation processes. The transparency of the materials I use manifestos presence and absence at the same time. My installations and sculptures change their appearance over the time, emphasizing dynamism of momentum.
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s el ect ed wo r ks sugar-glass series
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Sweet Vessels (2005-ongoing) is a series of glassware made out of sugar-glass(a.k.a hard candy) inspired by the similar material properties between glass and hard candy. Unlike the normal drinking glasses which could last for a long time, these hard candy objects gradually melt and re-crystalize over time.
Sweet Vessels Granulated sugar, corn syrup, food color dimensions variable 2009
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Above: installation shot at Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 2010 Below: installation shot at Urban Glass, New York 2010
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Sweet Vessels with Papabubble Japan (2012) In January 2012, Sweet Vessels was presented in Japan for the first time thanks to the generous support of Papabubble Japan. The piece was on display and also on sale at Papabubble stores in Tokyo(Nakano,Shibuya) and Yokohama.
Above: Display case installation at Papabubble Nakano store, Tokyo 2012 Next page: Display case installation at Papabubble Yokohama store, Kanagawa
2012
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Edible Glass
C12 H24 O11 (2011-ongoing)
is an individually wrapped hard candy that just looks like a broken piece of glass. The production of Edible Glass was done in collaboration with an artisan candy store, Papabubble New York. The piece has been exhibited at the display window at Papabubble store in SoHo, Brattleboro Museum&Art Center in Brattleboro, VT, and Granoff Center for Creative Arts at Brown University in Providence, RI.
Edible Glass C12H24 O11 Isomalt, citric acid, natural flavor, custom design package 2.5�w x 4�/each bag 2011
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Edible Glass “Curtain� installation at Papabubble New York consists of 600 pieces of Edible Glass candies.
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Edible Glass C12 H24 O11 Store display at Papabubble New York, 2011
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Sugar-glass Lab & Workshop (2011-ongoing) During winter2010 – Spring2011, I participated in the residency program at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. I was given an opportunity to share the process of making my sugar-glass piece with the museum visitors. By combining the language of art, cooking and science, I created a performative environment in the museum’s studio space where the visitors were invited to see, touch and taste sugar-glass objects.
Sugar-glass Lab Studio shot at the Museum of Arts and Design 2011
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Sugar-glass Lab Demonstration, interactive installation, performance 2011
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Edible Glass Workshop at Whitney Museum of American Art As a part of Trade School: Coincidence of Wants 2011
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s el ect ed wo r ks installations
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Rock Garden Disco (2010-ongoing) incorporates the aesthetics of a traditional Japanese Rock Garden (Kare-sansui) into a discotheque. Each “rock� covered by small shards of mirror is powered by a motor and it rotates slowly as it reflects the light beam from a ceiling. The attempt of the installation is to create an environment where stillness and dynamism coexist.
Rock Garden Disco Mirror, motor, styrofoam, light, gravel dimensions variable 2010
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Rock Garden Disco Mirror, motor, styrofoam, light, gravel dimensions variable 2010
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Rock Garden Disco for The Pajama Factory Mirror, wood, motor, styrofoam, mylar dimensions variable 2010
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Drifting: Personal Island Mirror, wood, styrofoam, mylar w 24”x d36”x h96” 2009
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Irrationally Exuberant (2008-ongoing) mimics the aesthetics of an experimental cinema by utilizing antiquated and simple technologies. The overhead projector projects the air bubbles rising and bursting in a water tank sitting on top of a projector. The projected image on the screen look quite the same all the time, but a viewer never sees the same bubble image again as it is constantly changing.
Irrationally Exuberant (bubble projection) version1 Overheard projector, glass,water, pump dimensions variable 2008
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Irrationally Exuberant (bubble projection) version2 Overheard projector, glass,water, pump dimensions variable 2009
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Irrationally Exuberant (bubble projection) version3 Overheard projector, glass,water, pump dimensions variable 2011 Created in collaboration with Kelsey Harrington
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curriculum vitae y u k a
o t a n i
Email: vetrovetro@yahoo.co.jp Web: http://www.yukaotani.com Tel: 401-954-8853 EDUCATION 2008 Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI Master of Fine Arts with honors 2000 Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan Bachelor of Fine Arts, Craft Design Non-degree program 2007,2008 Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA 2007 Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME 2003-2004 Ezra Glassblowing School, Fukui, Japan One year glassblowing concentration program SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2012 "Study for Hojoki" Camel Project Space, Brooklyn, NY 2012 "Sweet Vessels@PAPABUBBLE" Papabubble, Tokyo, Japan 2011 "Edible Glass Window" Papabubble, New York, NY 2010 “Rock Garden Disco” Pepper’s Gallery, Tokyo, Japan 2008 “Irrationally Exuberant” Gallery Catacomb Central Falls, RI 2004“Out of Pod– Adventures of Broad Beans” Morita Bank, Fukui, Japan SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2012 "Mediated Realities" COHEN GALLERY:GRANOFF Center for the Arts, Brown University, Providence, RI 2011 "Urban Glass Pop-Up Shop" Museum of The City of New York, New York, NY 2011 "The Secret Life of Sand" Hachatory, Philadelphia, PA 2011 "Glass and All Senses" Brattleboro Museum of Contemporary Art, Brattleboro, VT 2010 “InLight 2010” 1708 Gallery, Richmond, VA 2010 “Last Supper Festival” 3rd Ward, Brooklyn, NY 2010 “TRANSITION: Artists of UrbanGlass” UrbanGlass, Brooklyn, NY 2010 “The Business of Aura” Elga Wimmer Gallery and Broadway Gallery New York, NY 2010 “Factory Fresh” Public Art Academy, Williamsport, PA 2010 “Hand+Made” Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Houston, TX 2010 "Heed The Machine, Illustrious" The Former Convent of St. Cecilia's Parish, Brooklyn, NY 2010 "Full Disclosure" Tompkins Projects, Brooklyn, NY 2009 "Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Heart" The Lower East Side Dance Academy, New York, NY 2009 “Objective Affection” Boffo, New York, NY 2009 “Will It Happen?” Elga Wimmer Gallery, New York, NY 2009 “BIGG: Breakthrough Ideas in Global Glass” OSU Urban Art Space, Columbus, OH 2008 “OVS No.7” CRG Gallery, New York, NY 2008 2008 “Wright Biennial 2008” University of California, Los Angeles(UCLA) Los Angeles, CA 2008 “RISD Graduate Thesis Exhibition” Providence Convention Center, Providence, RI 2007 “Eidolon–Exploring The Ephemeral–” Three Rivers Art Festival Gallery Pittsburgh, PA 2007 “How Is This Glass?” Hillell Gallery at Brown University Providence, RI 2007 “Rain or Shine” Sol Koffler Gallery(RISD) Providence. RI 2007 “Women Looking East” University of Rhode Island Gallery Providence, RI 2006 “RISD Triennial” Woods Gerry Gallery(RISD) Providence, RI 2006 “VERSUS” Sol Koffler Gallery(RISD) Providence. RI 2006 “UMASS Exchange” University of Massachusetts Student Gallery Amherst, MA 2005 “Site/Sight” Westminster Gallery Providence, RI 2004 “Arekoreten” Gallery Ichinosato Toyama, Japan 2004 "Ezra Glassblowing School Exhibition" Gallery 291 Tokyo, Japan
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AWARDS/GRANTS 2009 Creative Capital/Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Program 2005-2008 RISD Fellowship 2005-2008 RISD Graduate Assistantship 2007 RISD Friends of Glass Scholarship 2007 RISD-Pilchuck Glass School Partner Scholarship 2007 Haystack Mountain of Crafts Technical Assistantship 2005 Kanazu Forest of Creation Scholarship RESIDENCIES 2011 CGCA Fellowship, Creative Glass Center of America, Millville, NJ 2011 Watrase Art Project Artist in Residence program, Nikko, Japan 2010-2011 Open Studio Residency Program, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY 2010 Artist in Residence program, The Pajama Factory, Williamsport, PA 2008 Chashama North Artist in Residence Program, Chashama Inc, Pine Plains, NY LECTURE 2009 Visiting Artist, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
COLLECTIONS Museum of American Glass, Millville, NJ TEACHING 2011 "Studio Sundays" Workshop Instructor, Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY 2011 "Edible Glass Workshop/Trade School: Coincidence of Wants", Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY 2011 "Edible Glass Workshop" Trade School, New York, NY 2008 Instructor for "Beginning Glass" Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI 2004 "Drawing Workshop" Fukuno Ichinosato Art Festival, Tonami, Japan CURATORIAL 2010 "The Post-Glass Video Festival" Heller Gallery, New York, NY 2009 "How Is This Glass?" Multiple storefronts in downtown Corning, Corning, NY PUBLICATION 2008 Group Effort –Collaboration As Process and Form UCLA Art Department, Los Angeles, CA
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