Tlatelolco Clash, 2011
Deep in the diplomatic and exclusive environs of Roppongi, with its international flavour in Minato, lies the subtle basement headquarters of Kaikai Kiki Gallery. Now in its fourth year as an established gallery formed under Takashi Murakami’s creative company Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd., currently on show is a body of work by Albanian artist Anri Sala.
Image, sound and space has continued to form the basis of Sala’s time-based practice and it was great to have the opportunity to view his new work while I was in Tokyo last week since I missed the opening of his solo show at the Serpentine Gallery, London. The mixed media installation consists of three video works as well as a snare drum (Doldrum, 2008) and a traditional music box (No Window No Cry, 2011) all centred around English punk rock band The Clash's 1981 hit "Should I Stay or Should I Go". The dark space, complete with tatami mat in one section of the gallery's floorplan, was lit by the large scale projections, filled with the tinny sound of a barrel organ in Le Clash (2010) shot in Bordeaux, France and Tlatelolco Clash (2011) set in Tlatelolco, Mexico City and the emotional and improvised tones of a saxophone in Long Sorrow (2005) played by Jemeel Moondoc in suburban Berlin, Germany. Sala’s restructuring of sound, image and location produce a decidedly offbeat atmosphere from on-beat elements – the visual narrative of the floating saxophonist or portable musical box is what ties the social contexts together and has the viewer travelling from one work to another, following the sound wherever it goes.
Le Clash, 2010
If you are in Tokyo next week don’t miss Anri Sala at Kaikai Kiki Gallery, which will close on 11th November – click here for more information about the exhibition and details on future events.
Anri Sala
Kaikai Kiki Gallery
2-3-30 Motoazabu
Minato-ku
Tokyo, Japan
