Ken Matsubara
The moon is beautiful. -「月がきれい。」

Kunst-Station Sankt Peter Cologne
Opening: Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Entrance: Leonhard-Tietz-Str. 6, 50676 Cologne
sankt-peter-koeln.de

Ken Matsubara, in his installation works, regularly employs film and photography in order to activate the human collective memory. He regards this as a link between the earliest humans and ourselves today. Transmitted through DNA, this knowledge – inherited over thousands of years – possesses transcendent qualities that transcend conventional notions of individuality, culture, and borders.

To activate collective memory, Matsubara carefully selects motifs and materials for his installations that hold meaning for as many people as possible. Thus, water, glass, candles, paper, and people themselves become the actors in his works. Matsubara’s art follows the Japanese aesthetic of mono no aware – an attitude that emphasizes both sadness and acceptance toward the transience of all existence.

Kunst-Station Sankt Peter is a unique place, distinguished from other Catholic churches by its simple, singular space – without chairs, without flowers, unadorned and yet fascinating. It is also remarkable that contemporary music is used during services, further shaping the character of this church.

Within this sacred space, Motoi Yamamoto (salt installation, 2010) and wind artist Rikuo Ueda (2018) have already realized installations. In November, Art Cologne will also take place, making a visit to Cologne especially worthwhile during the colder season.