KANA KAWANISHI GALLERY is pleased to announce the opening of the duo exhibition by Takeshi Fujimura and Naha Kanie, “Only Strangers Can Enter the Shore of Strangers (But Everyone Is a Stranger),” on Sunday, January 29th, 2023.

 

At first glance, the word “stranger” may seem easy to use. Still, we notice that behind it lie the roots of division based on language, nationality, religion, culture, ethnicity, ideology, appearance, income, education, gender, and many other criteria. We also realize that the word creates the seeds of all severe social problems, such as bullying, discrimination, immigration, international conflicts, and others for which there seems to be no way out.

 

In this exhibition, the two artists attempt to unravel “what is a stranger” and “where do strangers come from?” 

 

For example, the TV program “How Do You Like Wednesday? (Suiyō Dōdeshō)” started as a local program in Hokkaido but has developed many enthusiastic fans throughout Japan. Those who have seen the program seem to connect with a particular groove, leaving those who have never seen it with a sense of alienation. The program's main content is that four men from Hokkaido travel throughout Japan and worldwide, while most of the conversation occurs in a car. This also makes the program an intriguing subject for examining the consciousness of “inside” and “outside.” As a distant homage to the program, the two artists and the gallerist observed “Wednesdays” and “Saturdays” at a fixed point for over a year and a half while preparing this exhibition as an experimental study. 

 

The exhibition was initially scheduled to open on Saturday, January 29, 2022, but due to various circumstances, it will now open on Sunday, January 29, 2023. The artist's decision to “place the highest priority on facing one’s family” was supported by everyone involved, and coincidentally, it also became an opportunity for those involved to face their past selves from a year ago, reminding us of the effect of the time axis on the consciousness of “strangers.”

 

Even in an age when diversity is called for loudly,  Japan ranks 120th out of 156 countries on the Gender Gap Index (GII), revealing social inclusion is not progressing well in contemporary Japan. We cordially welcome all to this exhibition, which will provide an opportunity to reexamine the roots of “strangers” in the contemporary age.