光泉 SPACE : SPRING

Lucie Fontaine and her employees are proud to present “Spring,” the first exhibition at 光泉 Space, Lucie Fontaine’s new satellite in Tokyo. While “光泉” indicates one possible Japanese translation of the name “Lucie Fontaine” (光 = hikari “light” and 泉 = izumi “fountain”), the word “space” addresses the following topics: space as a denomination for something that can be either public or private; space as understood in the field of science, which means the study of issues specifically related to space travel and space exploration; and space simply as a physical space devoted to art.

Traditionally, visual art in Japan was conceived for the house and specifically for a space called “tokonoma” [床の間]. Tokonoma refers to a niche, a built-in recessed space – located in the common room (tea or tatami room) of a Japanese traditional private residence – in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed. The items usually displayed in a tokonoma are either calligraphic or pictorial scrolls and an arrangement of flowers. The tokonoma and its contents are essential elements of traditional Japanese interior decoration. Within the Japanese symbolism, the tokonoma is considered a space that is internal to the house but at the same time a link to the exterior and to the universe. The display in the tokonoma needs to be rearranged every season, four times per year.

For these reasons the 2013 program at Lucie Fontaine’s satellite in Tokyo will showcase, among other projects, four exhibitions, one each season, that will take place in the tatami rooms of a house located in the Shimokitazawa [下北沢] neighborhood of Tokyo.

The title of the first exhibition is simply “Spring” and it will open on April 27 from 3 to 7 pm. According to the time preceding the advent of the Gregorian calendar in Japan the new year used to start in the spring, and the season begins the fiscal and scholastic calendars to this day. The spring season is also dedicated to the contemplation of flowers. Following these premises, “Spring” will include contributions by scientists Brent Buffington (space engineer at JPL-NASA American space agency), Adam Master (plasma physicist at JAXA-Japanese space agency), and by artists Mihuț Boșcu Kafchin, Radu Comșa, Alice Mandelli, Kaori Miyayama and Cristian Boffelli, Soren Roi, Alessandro Roma, and Moe Yoshida. It also includes interventions by Tana Gallery Bookshelf with a show by Ryohei Usui and The John Riepenhoff Experience with a show by Jeni Spota.

光泉 Space, Lucie Fontaine’s Tokyo satellite is located at 1-23-3 Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tōkyō-to and is open by appointment only. For more details about the exhibition please contact info@luciefontaine.com or check its Japanese website www.l-f-s-t.com