Museum of Contemporary Art hosts 'Parallel Worlds' exhibit

TOKYO —

Marking the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Japan, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo will host “Parallel Worlds” from July 26 until Sept 28. The exhibition features the works of fantasy and science fiction by Hugues Reip and 10 Japanese and French artists.

Born in Cannes in 1964, Reip commands an array of art media, including neon and video. “Parallel Worlds” gathers Reip’s major works in one exhibition, including such pieces as “Eden,” in which viewers encounter an optical illusion of themselves, as tiny as insects, inside huge plants, and “White Spirit,” in which humorous ghosts fleetingly appear and disappear.

The 10 other artists, whose work Reip considers resonant with his own, constitute a line-up of some of the foremost contemporary art creators of Japan and France. While wide-ranging in character, their art can transform our everyday sensibilities, causing us to sense the presence of an alternative realities existing infinitely in parallel with our own. In addition to distinctive works previously shown by these artists, Michel Blazy — known for his installation pieces created using foodstuffs — has created a new work for this exhibition, as have Jacques Julien, Kohei Nawa, and Rei Naito.

An exhibition packed with the fun of contemporary art, “Parallel Worlds” will give wings to the imaginations of all who visit and a taste of the thrill of discovering new worlds.

The museum is closed Mondays except Aug 11,18 and Sept 15, 22. It is open 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. It is located at 4-1-1, Miyoshi, Koto-ku. Nearest station is Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station on the Hanzomon Line. For more information, visit www.mot-art-museum.jp.