YOSHIAKI KAIHATSU - SEVEN GIFTS
Opening: Sun., November 5, 2023, from 3pm 
Mikiko Sato Gallery Temporary / Hamburger Hof Passage, Jungfernstieg 24-26, 20354 Hamburg

Yoshiaki KAIHATSU (*1966, Yamanashi, Japan) presents social sculptures, installations and performances with a playful, open and diverse approach. For this purpose, he mostly uses everyday objects, on the basis of which he deals with pressing questions and issues of our time. Since the devastating earthquake in Japan in March 2011, Kaihatsu has brought his political position even more to the fore and to date has created numerous actions and artworks about the people and communities affected by the disaster.

In his upcoming solo exhibition "Seven Gifts," Yoshiaki Kaihatsu remains true to his previous artistic stance by focusing on several social injustices through numerous new and older works: for example, in the series "Seven Deadly Sins: Lucky 7," the artist addresses the ongoing racism in the U.S. and the unlawful use of force by police there through embroidered police uniforms. The textiles, now all decorated with one of the seven deadly sins, create a sharp contrast between supposed good (police) and evil (sin) and reference well-known public protests (specifically tennis player Naomi Osaka, who wore seven different black masks with names of African Americans who died due to police violence during the 2020 US Open).

The battle of the sexes and gender discourse are also taken up and deconstructed in a more humorous but no less explicit form. On the one hand, hand-embroidered towels are adorned with derogatory remarks that many women still have to listen to from their male partners today. On the other hand, Kaihatsu shows beards - symbols of masculinity - that he created from the hair of female donors, thus literally turning supposed power relations and ideals upside down.

The artist will be present for the opening.

A workshop (fee required) prior to the opening is planned. Details will follow shortly.

MIKIKO SATO GALLERY temporary
Hamburger Hof Passage · Jungfernstieg 26-28 · 20354 Hamburg
Opening hours: Tu.— Thu. 12am—7 pm
T 040 32901980 · www.mikikosatogallery.com