Kaoru Hirano "Re-Dress"
2012.6.29(Fri) - 2012.7.28(Sat)

Kaoru Hirano creates her works by unraveling once-worn clothing until it is reduced to thread, and then joining it back together, giving visual form to that which is usually invisible--extinguishing of the memories and presence of the original wearer, followed by rebirth.
As indicated by this exhibition's title, "Re-Dress," Hirano is attempting is invert the subject, taking clothing, which is always being worn by someone, and transforming it into the subject, dressed with faint traces of that person. While the clothing that has been turned into a work of art loses its original form entirely, the traces of the wearer become even stronger.
Hirano's solo exhibition at the Shiseido Gallery in 2007 and exhibits at the Yokohama Museum of Art in 2008 drew the attention of the art world to her unique mode of expression. After a period in New York, she moved to Berlin in 2009, where she has continued her creative work.
This "Re-Dress" exhibition consists of an installation of works made primarily from wedding dresses. The used wedding dresses were obtained from Japanese wedding gown rental outlets. These dresses, which had been worn by many people, were unraveled and initially reduced to meaningless thread. Through Hirano's handiwork, they then take forms possessing hints of having once been worn by someone.
When the material is turned into an art work, the article of clothing becomes separated from the specific individuals who wore it, transforming into memories and feelings that can be shared universally. We can imagine the background and history that each article of clothing possessed. What kind of traces or senses of life can be perceived from a wedding dress, which symbolizes a turning point in a woman's life?
These wedding dress works are displayed together with a series of works in which the artist has rolled clothing that has been unraveled into the shape of a ball, and small works in which shirts have been transformed into spider webs. As a consequence, the exhibition space is open to interpretation on many different levels.


平野薫「Re-Dress」
2012年6月29日(金) - 7月28日(土)

平野薫の作品は、誰かが身につけていた衣服を糸になるまで解体し、再度つなぎ合わせて制作され、人の記憶や存在の消滅と再生といった目に見えない現象を視覚化しています。
平野が試みるのは、今回の展覧会タイトル「Re-Dress」にも通じるように、常に誰かに着られるという衣服の主を逆転させ、衣服が主となって誰かの気配をまとわせることです。作品化された衣服は元々の形状をすっかり失いますが、人の気配はより強くうかびあがってきます。
2007年資生堂ギャラリーでの個展や、2008年横浜美術館での展示でその独特な表現が注目を集め、NY滞在を経て2009年よりベルリンで制作活動を行っています。
本展覧会｢Re-Dress｣では、ウエディングドレスを素材とした作品を中心にインスタレーションが構成されます。今回作品で使用される古着のウエディングドレスは日本の貸衣装屋から譲り受けたものです。何人もの女性が着たドレスは解体され、ひとまず何の意味も持たない糸に戻されます。そして平野の手によって、かつて誰かに着られていたという気配をまとった作品が形を表します。
素材が作品となったとき、古着は特定の個人から離れ、普遍的に共有できる記憶や感情に変換され、私たちはそれぞれに衣服の持っていた背景や歴史を想像することになります。女性の人生の転機を象徴する衣装であるウエディングドレスからは、一体どんな気配や息づかいを感じられるのでしょうか。
その他、解いた衣服をボール状に丸めるシリーズや、シャツをクモの巣状に形成する小品などが併せて展示され、重層的な意味合いを含んだ空間が作られます。