The eighth Tsubaki-kai began as a place to join a group of artists of the same era to contemplate the idea of richness amid uncertainty. Now in its second year, the quest of these artists delves deeper and grows broader in scope as they engage in further exploration. Tsubaki-kai 8 in 2022 will proceed via the witnessing, from various angles, of scenes being observed by the artists right now.
The “Tsubaki-kai” is a group show launched in 1947 with the reopening of the Shiseido Gallery following the wartime suspension of its activities. Named after the camellia (tsubaki) of the Shiseido symbol mark, and grounded in the belief that art has the capacity to offer hope and courage, Tsubaki-kai exhibitions have been staged even at times of post-war restriction, disaster and recession, out of a desire to help the world flourish once more. Serving as the main exhibition of the Shiseido Gallery for over 70 years now, and featuring a different lineup of artists in every era, to date the Tsubaki-kai has showcased the work of a total of 86 talented art practitioners.
Members of the 8th Tsubaki-kai, which started last year, are Hiroshi Sugito, Ryuji Nakamura, Nerhol, Futoshi Miyagi, Aiko Miyanaga, and [mé]. Their cross-genre activities and collaborations, and team-based production, make all these artists especially representative of their era. Here at Shiseido Gallery, until 2023 we will join them to ponder the possibilities and challenges of a post-corona “new world.”
Coronavirus pandemic has also changed the mindset of artists and their gaze toward the world. Last year, on the theme of “Impetus,” the artists made selection from the art collected by Shiseido at previous Tsubaki-kai exhibitions works that spark ideas around this “new world.” By presenting what they have chosen from the collection, and their personal responses to it, via their own works and methods, they attempted to bring new perspectives to the collection works, and create links between these, and the future. In 2022, the artists work with each other and engage with experts in other fields in a “Quest” to explore questions and realizations from the first year, and present works arising from these interactions.
We held a monthly meeting this year to share ideas with each other. Along with new keywords such as "inside and outside," "private and public," and "good life" that emerged there, we will try to create a platform for their expressions while building relationships with each other. We will share the process of creating the exhibition through Shiseido Gallery Twitter and website.
The logo of "8th Tsubakikai Tsubakikai 8" is newly designed by Yoshihisa Tanaka (graphic designer / Nerhol) every year.