Exterior of Duff House, image courtesy: Duff House, photography: Donald MacLeod

WAGON is delighted to announce the exhibition Atsuo Hukuda: SUKI-MONO: Ways Since Rin-pa – Duff House, which marks the first major solo exhibition of Japanese conceptual sculptor Atsuo Hukuda held in Northern Scotland.

Installation view of Colour and/or Monochrome by Atsuo Hukuda as part of the exhibition RINKOU-KAKU Project 2014 at RINKOU-KAKU Pavilion in Gunma, Japan, Photography: Satoshi Mouri

Duff House is considered to be one of the most important Georgian houses in the North of Scotland and masterpieces by the renowned Scottish architect William Adam in the 18th century.

Atsuo Hukuda (1958-) is both an established Japanese conceptual and minimalist artist in his own right and is also the director of CONCEPT SPACE, a distinctive tatami-matted traditional ‘Nagaya’ venue for visual art situated in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture in Japan.

Although originally trained as a sculptor, Hukuda has been employing traditional Japanese painting techniques and materials along the lines of Rin-pa. Rin-pa is one of the major historical schools of Japanese painting initiated in 17th century Kyoto and significantly developed in the 18th century – the same period as when Duff House was built – notably by Korin Ogata (1658–1716). One of the most successful culminations of Hukuda’s exploration around Rin-pa and the comparative relations between Japanese vs Western or traditional vs contemporary is his curation of a series of exhibitions and events entitled SUKI-MONO-TACHI: Ways Since Rin-pa.

As the next phase of the development of the series, in this exhibition Hukuda will make a site-specific installation specially dedicated to Duff House as his direct, contemporary response to its architecture and design. Hukuda’s minimalist installation follows his concept Dry / Light / Clear / Sharp, leading to a subtle yet rather beautiful resonance and contrast with the decorative, grand and rich architectural features in the historical Georgian Scottish mansion.

As 2016 is the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design in Scotland, this exhibition aims to make an occasion to light up the magnificence of the heritage around Scottish architecture and design in a respectful yet contemporary way, by employing a completely different cultural perspective rooted in the traditional Japanese painting movement of Rin-pa – which blossomed in the same historical era as Duff House.

This exhibition is supported by Friends of Duff House (Scottish Charity No.SC027830)

To view the installation shots from the exhibition, please click here.

EXHIBITION DETAILS
Atsuo Hukuda: SUKI-MONO: Ways Since Rin-pa – Duff House
Curated by Naoko Mabon
4 September – 23 October 2016
Duff House, Banff, Scotland AB45 3SX
Open daily 11am – 5pm, last entry 4.30pm
Admission fee required (for more details including ticket price please click here)

OPENING RECEPTION | ARTIST TALK EVENT
Saturday 3 September 2016, 2-4pm
Invitation only – bring invitation with you
(contact us to request invitation)

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Also on view:
Atsuo Hukuda + Shuhei Fukuda
RYUHA = Inheritance of School of Art and Inheritance of Style of Art
Curated by Atsuo Hukuda + Naoko Mabon
7 September – 7 October 2016
sleeper, 6 Darnaway Street, Edinburgh EH3 6BG
Monday – Friday 2pm – 5pm, admission free
Preview: Wednesday 7 September 2016, 5.30pm – 7pm
For more information of the exhibition, please click here