Exhibition/event has ended.
Naoki Hirose “Gyaru Funeral”
Shiroto no ran Shop #12
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Artists
Naoki Hirose
Naoki Hirose (b. 1987 in Ibaraki Prefecture) attended Chim↑Pom member Ryuta Ushiro’s “Genius High School !!!!” school of art in 2013. Hirose’s projects include portraying the negatively perceived phenomenon of “internet cafe refugees” in a positive light as a new lifestyle through interviews with “refugees” and experiments in living with them. With a cheerful disposition and light footwork, Hirose’s work, which deliberately takes a naive approach to art, remains committed to the social phenomena surrounding him.
“Gyaru” is a female fashion trend from the mid-to-late 1990s that led the avant-garde of the era, sparked the economy, and spread from Japan around the world. The May 1st, 2009 issue of Brutus magazine ran the article “Girl’s Culture— Will Gyaru Save Japan!?,” upending our preconceptions by exploring the relationship between gyaru and art.
One of the muses of the gyaru movement is the dark-skinned “Black Diamond” group, which formed in July, 2012 and has become a large faction with more than 150 members around Japan. They have been featured in domestic and international media including events, magazines, TV, and music. On June 29th, 2014, Hirose and Black Diamond members got together in Shibuya to hold a “gyaru funeral” that was followed by a coffin-carrying parade to the Hachiko statue and a performance.
While the double-life-leading gyaru appear flamboyant and happy, many of them harbor dark pasts. The gyaru life, which lasts up until around age 25, briefly illuminates and celebrates their lives. Tinged with an indelible sadness, the gyaru movement carries on aspects of traditional performing arts such as Kabuki, which brings color to short lives.
This exhibition focuses on part of Hirose’s funeral conducted with gyaru and a collaboration between the artist and Black Diamond members. Come pay your respects to the gorgeous and melancholy lives of gyaru.
Venue: “Nao Nakamura” (30 sec. walk from Shiroto no ran Shop #12)
“Gyaru” is a female fashion trend from the mid-to-late 1990s that led the avant-garde of the era, sparked the economy, and spread from Japan around the world. The May 1st, 2009 issue of Brutus magazine ran the article “Girl’s Culture— Will Gyaru Save Japan!?,” upending our preconceptions by exploring the relationship between gyaru and art.
One of the muses of the gyaru movement is the dark-skinned “Black Diamond” group, which formed in July, 2012 and has become a large faction with more than 150 members around Japan. They have been featured in domestic and international media including events, magazines, TV, and music. On June 29th, 2014, Hirose and Black Diamond members got together in Shibuya to hold a “gyaru funeral” that was followed by a coffin-carrying parade to the Hachiko statue and a performance.
While the double-life-leading gyaru appear flamboyant and happy, many of them harbor dark pasts. The gyaru life, which lasts up until around age 25, briefly illuminates and celebrates their lives. Tinged with an indelible sadness, the gyaru movement carries on aspects of traditional performing arts such as Kabuki, which brings color to short lives.
This exhibition focuses on part of Hirose’s funeral conducted with gyaru and a collaboration between the artist and Black Diamond members. Come pay your respects to the gorgeous and melancholy lives of gyaru.
Venue: “Nao Nakamura” (30 sec. walk from Shiroto no ran Shop #12)
Schedule | Jul 11 (Fri) 2014-Jul 20 (Sun) 2014 Opening Hours Information
Opening Reception Jul 12 (Sat) 2014 18:00 - 00:00 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | Free | ||||
| Venue | Shiroto no ran Shop #12 | ||||
| Location | 2F Fudeno Bldg., 3-8-12 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 166-0002 | ||||
| Access | 7 minute walk from Koenji Station on the JR Chuo line. | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it |
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