Aug. 27, 1996

Sep. 24, 1996

Art Infomation Index - Sep. 17, 1996

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Studio Shokudo nmp net gallery - Studio Shokudo

Urgent Issue of Studio Shokudo Makoto MURATA "Studio Shokudo" is a collaborative studio based in a remodeled remains of a dining room in an abandoned factory in Tachikawa. It is also the name of a loosely connected movement group of 8 young artists who use that studio for their artwork production. Studio The former Studio Shokudo used to be in the employees' dining room in the old Riccar Sewing Machine factory in a place 10 minutes away by foot from the Tachikawa station. In 1994, one of the members saw the current space, negotiated its use, and started to rent it as a collaborative studio space with his friends. The large space, which is about 1,000 square meters, and having a ceiling of about 6 meters high, is divided into booths of about 50 square meters, and each artist uses these individual spaces for production. The remaining space is shared. The current rent of the space is 400,000 yen. Including miscellaneous expenses, the cost is 70,000 to 80,000 yen, so it is not as comfortable a space as it may seem. Members Although there were changes in the meantime, the eight current members consist of Daisuke Nakayama, Keiichi Bando, Takahiro Fujiwara, Izuru Kasahara, Yoshihiro Suda, Tetsuya Nakamura, Yuriko Matsushita, and Yukiko Onoue. The core age is in the late 20's (26 - 28 years old), and their artistic style and the alma mater are all different. For example, Nakayama works on installations under the theme of weapons, Fujiwara creates moving objects reminding us of a vibrator, and Suda renders plants realistically in wooden sculpture. We cannot summarize them in one "- ism". One common aspect could be that they all create their works with their own hands. This may sound like something taken for granted, but today, it is rare for an artist not to depend on ready-made objects or on consigned production. In other words, they are artists as well as being artisans. That is why they need the large space for production, and a collaborative studio where they can share facilities and tools. Also, although the members are rivals, they do not hesitate to share information or help each other. For example, introducing curators and critics who came to see one member, to other members is already an unwritten rule. They could be described as a group sharing a common destiny. This is probably possible because the members are on an equal status, standing immediately past the start line. When one or two members leap out to take a lead, this group may start to deteriorate. Urgent issue Now, this group is facing a crisis. The factory's land was purchased and its development plan has been decided. They must vacate this space at the end of October. This critical issue is now strengthening their unity, but in the worst scenario, they could be scattered, and Studio Shokudo may terminate, becoming merely "a page in the life of the young artists". Isn't there anyone who can lease a wide space to these 8 artists as a studio at a reasonable fee? [Makoto MURATA/Art Journalist]

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Aug. 27, 1996

Sep. 24, 1996