Shimabuku. Me, We, the first solo show in Italy by the Japanese artist who won This Is Not a Prize in 2019, has officially been inaugurated on May 6th at Bolzano-based Museion. Mutina contributed to the realisation of the exhibition, curated by Bart van den Heide, as path conclusion of the collaboration brought forward after the award of the prize.
Shimabuku’s cross-disciplinary art offers a subtle, curious, and humorous approach to the world. His works originate from a private moment of wonder, like an idea, a desired encounter, or a poem. Through his interaction with his surroundings, intimacy becomes public as the artist enacts his thoughts.
The display of Shimabuku. Me, We covers two floors of the Museion building, showcasing a variety of artworks dating from the early 90s up until today, as well as pieces produced especially for this context. The third floor displays a retrospective “flow of episodes”, without a linear chronology, while the fourth floor features a thematic combination between existing and new productions. Central to this selection is the pairing of different entities, such as objects, animals, fruit, histories and global geographies.
Mutina also supported the artist in the production of a ceramic project specifically developed for this occasion: Moon and Potato, a visual dialogue between these two subjects, two apparently different objects which the artist has unexpectedly put in relation to each other. Created with the invaluable support of Ceramica Gatti, this special edition is part of a group of works in which the artist explores the interactions between the outer and inner dimensions of the self.
