Naoko Tanaka's artistic work revolves around the visualization of mysterious worlds and feelings - a perception that approaches the feeling of children. In doing so, she emancipates herself from the system of language, the numerous frames and assumptions that lead to the involuntary understanding and classification of what is perceived. As with the individual parts of the shadow trilogy, the central interplay of light and shadow reinforces the peculiar effect of the objects, which oscillates between the familiar and the uncanny. On display are photo collages as well as graphic and sculptural works that were created for, through and during the work on the shadow trilogy. Drawings form the basis of the three-dimensional objects assembled here and the constellations and choreographies that result from them. Some of them give the impression that they are twisted and disfigured objects that tell of the rebelliousness and stubbornness of familiar materials such as wood and metal. But this impression is deceptive, because Naoko Tanaka is by no means based on existing signals and objects; rather, her works spring from the desire to give form to an immaterial imprint and to make those dreamlike images tangible. Of course, the organic condition of the harmoniously modeled objects always bears witness to a pronounced transience: as if frozen in the middle of a movement, the temporality of every observation becomes comprehensible. The same applies to the graphics projected onto a screen that can be walked around freely. The projection counteracts their original materiality and alienates, enlivens and interprets them through light; the resulting performative effects ensure an incalculable resonance in their immediate surroundings and thus build a bridge to the parallel performances.

 

Astrid Hackel 

(Editor and publicist)