I am going to exhibit a continuing series of work, “Shiritori-okimono” [wordplay-objects], once I made in 1999 alongside recent pencil drawings, which is a new development within my practice. Shiritori is a Japanese word game where the players exchange words that begin with the last syllable of the previous word avoiding the syllable „n‟, as there are no words in Japanese that begins with that syllable; eg zugaikotsu [skull] > tsukushi [a horsetail] > Shikoku [an island in southern Japan]. Shiritori-okimono is a process in which I take these linguistic objects (things) that happen to line up as they are, and turn these into objects – subsequently creating an equal space that these objects share.

In my pencil drawings I am using the voluntary movement in my hands, as you do with a drawing, to draw the coming and going of the tide, converting an individual time, drawing time, into a tide.

Besides, the place would be terribly plain if these coexist – they‟re different in character.
- Zon Ito

This exhibition features Ito’s“Shiritori-okimono”, a made-up word for the displayed clay objects, and his monochrome drawings exhibited along the walls. Throughout the past few exhibitions Ito has presented a variety of work including embroidered textiles, an animation and small three dimensional objects, however, this time Ito will be trying a new approach by placing pencil drawings alongside objects. Ito will be participating in numerous exhibitions this year, which include a group exhibition at MOCA Taipei, the “CAFE in Mito 2011” exhibition at Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito, and “Ways of Worldmaking” at the National Museum of Art, Osaka.

* The text provided by TAKA ISHII GALLERY.

Period: Saturday, July 9 - Saturday, August 6, 2011
Venue: TAKA ISHII GALLERY (Kiyosumi, Tokyo)
Openiing reception: Saturday, July 9, 2011, 18:00 - 20:00