Royal/T Announces the Fall Exhibition
ALL OF THIS IS MELTING AWAY
August 14 - December 31, 2008
Selected by Jay Sanders from the collection of Susan Hancock
Opening Reception: August 14, 6-9pm
Royal/T, Culver City's Japanese inspired shop/café/exhibition space, is pleased to welcome Jay Sanders, curator and a Director of Greene Naftali Gallery in New York, as organizer of their fall group exhibition, All of this is melting away. Selected from Susan Hancock's collection and on view at Royal/T from August 14 through December 31, All of this is melting away features works by over 25 contemporary artists.
The title, taken from a collage by the artist Jim Hodges, expresses a change in form, a disappearance of some sort, though the specifics remain elusive. This notion of transformation--whether flattening out, sinking, melting away, raining down, or even falling asleep resonates throughout the exhibition in works by artists such as Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Dave Muller and Franz West. These themes also align with animation in its many definitions including creating movement from static forms and images, ascribing human-like qualities to inanimate objects and seeing these objects come to life and can be seen in many of the works throughout the show. Themes of enchantment and fantasy are prevalent as objects open their eyes and unnatural occurrences present themselves.
All of this is melting away, selected by Jay Sanders from Susan Hancock's collection, includes works by Chiho Aoshima, Olaf Breuning, Roberto Cuoghi, Wynne Greenwood, Jim Hodges, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Fischli & Weiss, Kirsten Hassenfeld, Hideaki Kawashima, Makiko Kudo, Melora Kuhn, Mahomi Kunikata, Yayoi Kusama, Tony Matelli, Bjarne Melgaard, Adam McEwen, Mariko Mori, Dave Muller, Ivan Navarro, Mitsuhiro Okamoto, Nick Rodrigues, Aya Takano, Yuken Teruya, Gary Webb, Fred Wilson and a newly commissioned work by Beth Campbell, amongst others.
In addition to the exhibition, Royal/T's shop will feature a curated selection of artist-made consumer goods and design objects entitled Kawaii Eyes. Imagined as a supplement to the primary exhibition, Kawaii Eyes investigates an advertising strategy that has come to dominate the consumer landscape of Japan--character design. Transforming inanimate consumer goods with the simplest animate suggestion, our consumer gaze is curiously returned. A selection of domestic home goods, toys, apparel, publications, and print editions, made by many of the artists featured in the All of this is melting away will be available. Items include plush toys by Takashi Murakami and Nagi Noda, prints and toy figures by Yoshitomo Nara, decorative design objects by Yayoi Kusama, baby tiger sculptures by Mitsuhiro Okamoto, print editions by Chiho Aoshima, Mr., Aya Takano, Hideaki Kawashima, and a special sticker vending machine by the Googly Eye Cru.
About Jay Sanders
Jay Sanders is a curator and writer living in New York. He is a Director at Greene Naftali Gallery. His recent projects include a video series co-organized with artist Paul Chan for the 2007 Lyon Biennale and the upcoming 2008 White Columns Annual exhibition. He is a member of the performance collaborative "Grand Openings" which recently performed at MUMOK in Vienna and participated in the 2006 Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial in Niigata. Sanders is currently producing a series of DVDs of the plays of Richard Foreman, and has published a book of drawings by Jack Smith. He has organized screenings and performance events at many New York venues including Anthology Film Archives, The Stone, Tonic, and the Whitney Museum at Altria.
About Royal/T
Royal/T is a playful blending of café, concept shop and art exhibition space. The space reflects the interior realm of fantasy that strongly influences the artists included in owner Susan Hancock's collection. Royal/T Cafe is inspired by the meido kissa (maid café) phenomena of Akihabara--Tokyo's electronic district. Recontextualizing the underground culture of Japan that celebrates cosplay (costume play) waitresses dress in maid uniforms, with a Lolita-esque touch and the cafe serves a fusion of French and Japanese cuisine with local and organic California style. The art space showcases curated exhibitions with a focus on Japanese contemporary art; and an inventive concept store emulates the collections' sophistication--a fusion of pop culture and high-end design.
Royal/T
8910 Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 8am-6pm; Saturday & Sunday, 10am-6pm
For more information: 310-559-6300; www.royal-t.org
