Ken Matsubara’s works have a strong relationship with past and memory. In previous series, his ‘Clouds’ works remember us symbolically in their nuclear presence. Similarly, his ‘Tide’ pieces reflected the strong and unavoidable ties between man and water. However, his current ‘Storm in a Glass’ series dramatically merges the past with the present: Ken lives and works in Toyko, and Japan is currently experiencing incredible difficulties. Not only are is the country recovering from the Fukushima disaster and the economical crisis sweeping the western world, but most importantly, after the earthquake in 2011 Japanese citizens stopped believing in their government. This lack of faith in a supreme authority represents how deeply shaken a civilization has become, especially one that is raised to believe strongly in the efficiency and capacity of its government. Since Fukushima, the emotional state of 120 million Japanese people has swung between hope and despair, anger and uncertainty. Water sitting in a glass is normally still, but in Ken’s ‘Storm in a Glass’ the water swirls and fluctuates just like the mood of the country, a haunting microcosm of the wave that came and destroyed, leaving desolation in her wake. This simple image contains all the strength and significance of a crucial historical moment for the life of the country, which changed the course of millions of lives.
Exhibitions
- 2024
Winter Group Exhibition
2020Utsusemi
2014Repetition
Available Artworks
