Teaming up with AllRightsReserved, Facing The Current marks Hanai’s largest overseas solo exhibition and is a reflection of what’s it like to literally face the current
Renowned Japanese artist Yusuke Hanai is back with AllRightsReserved for his largest overseas solo exhibition, Facing The Current. While much of Hanai’s work is very much influenced by the local surfing community and counterculture, he makes sure that it already is a mirror that represents our lives regardless if we aren’t interested or familiar with the surfing culture in a witty way.
The exhibition features the artist’s largest 3D artwork to date, alongside 19 brand-new canvas and multi-layered frame drawings and a small house installation which is his first-ever NFT art piece. The pandemic has left a lot of people struggling and Hanai asks through this exhibition if we want to live in the current without facing the present or do we want to face the present and keep rowing against the harshest of the current?
Tatler Hong Kong caught up with Hanai to walk us through his exhibition, what it represents and how it’s a reflection of our own lives.
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Tell us more about the exhibition’s title. What does it represent?
The word “current” has the meaning of “present” and “tide”. For surfers, the meaning of “tide” is more familiar. Sometimes, it’s easy to ride the “current” offshore where the waves break, but other times you end up missing a good spot [because of the current's] strength. Sometimes, you [also] get swept in a direction you don't want to go and have to keep paddling, and other times you’re in danger of being swept back to shore by the current heading out to sea. While in the water, surfers are always facing the “current” and thinking about when they need to paddle.
Once you get out of the ocean, you have to face another “current,” [which is] the present. Each one of us has our own present that we need to face, [whether it’s] relationships, work, health—we all are facing the present. Do you want to live in the current without facing the present, or do you want to face the present and keep rowing against the harsh current?
Those who keep rowing against the harsh current might end up in heaven or lose their strength and be laughed at for their futile efforts. In this day and age of information overload on the internet, it’s easy to be carried away and be criticised if you act differently especially during this pandemic. I’m attracted to people who stand against the big current and face the present in their own way, even if in vain so I tend to draw such people.
My work [have] always tried to encourage ordinary people who are struggling in life or facing the current. My works [serve as] anthems to those who are facing the current.
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