Exhibition/event has ended.
Touch of the Other
The Side
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Artists
Jonathan M. Hall, Takao Kawaguchi, Ryudai Takano, Naoto Iina
"Touch of the Other" is a collaborative project between Japan and the United States, led by Jonathan M. Hall and Takao Kawaguchi. It received art grants from the University of Southern California (USC) and was created and premiered at the One National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Library in Los Angeles in 2015. The production was later staged at the RedCAT theater in the same city and subsequently performed at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa and the Spiral Hall in Aoyama, Tokyo.
The inspiration for the project comes from the 1970 paper "Tearoom Trade" by American sociologist Laud Humphreys. This research, which investigated anonymous male sexual encounters in public restrooms, contributed to the gay liberation movement of the 1970s. Humphreys observed and recorded the interactions of men in public restrooms, shedding light on their social and economic backgrounds and exposing the irrationality of persecution against homosexuals by authorities.
In November 2015, partnership ordinances were enacted in the Shibuya and Setagaya cities of Tokyo, reflecting a growing societal interest in LGBTQ issues. "Touch of the Other" was staged against this backdrop. In 2024, it's crucial to reflect on how this theme has been updated or perhaps remained unchanged, considering the evolving social context of the time. Looking back on past works allows for an examination of both the performance environment at that time and the present.
In this exhibition at The Side Gallery in Kyoto, focusing on the promotional photographs of "Touch of the Other" taken by Ryudai Takano, alongside other photographs and videos, an opening event is scheduled for March 27th at 7:00 PM. The event will feature a performance by Takao Kawaguchi and an online talk with participants including Jonathan M. Hall, Takao Kawaguchi, Ryudai Takano, and Naoto Iina.
The inspiration for the project comes from the 1970 paper "Tearoom Trade" by American sociologist Laud Humphreys. This research, which investigated anonymous male sexual encounters in public restrooms, contributed to the gay liberation movement of the 1970s. Humphreys observed and recorded the interactions of men in public restrooms, shedding light on their social and economic backgrounds and exposing the irrationality of persecution against homosexuals by authorities.
In November 2015, partnership ordinances were enacted in the Shibuya and Setagaya cities of Tokyo, reflecting a growing societal interest in LGBTQ issues. "Touch of the Other" was staged against this backdrop. In 2024, it's crucial to reflect on how this theme has been updated or perhaps remained unchanged, considering the evolving social context of the time. Looking back on past works allows for an examination of both the performance environment at that time and the present.
In this exhibition at The Side Gallery in Kyoto, focusing on the promotional photographs of "Touch of the Other" taken by Ryudai Takano, alongside other photographs and videos, an opening event is scheduled for March 27th at 7:00 PM. The event will feature a performance by Takao Kawaguchi and an online talk with participants including Jonathan M. Hall, Takao Kawaguchi, Ryudai Takano, and Naoto Iina.
Schedule | Mar 27 (Wed) 2024-Apr 7 (Sun) 2024 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||
| Website | https://note.com/the_side/n/n0a27e0101aa3 | ||
| Venue | The Side https://the-side.studio.site/ | ||
| Location | 2F Shimourokogata-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 600-8059 | ||
| Access | 5 minute walk from exit 3 at Kiyomizu Gojo Station on the Keihan line, 7 minute walk from exit 1 at Gojo Station on the Karasuma subway line, 9 minute walk from exit 11 at Kyoto-kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu line. | ||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it  |
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