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Busy Work at Home at Nonaka-Hill

Artists: BLESS, David Byrne, Aki Goto, Alice Hutchins, Studio of Maki Kinnosuke, Adelle Lutz, Enzo Mari, Ingo Maurer, Issey Miyake, Nintendo, Tomohisa Obana, Toru Otani, Joel Otterson, Tejo Remy, Alma Siedhoff-Buscher, Studio of Kamekichi Tsunajima

Exhibition title: Busy Work at Home

Venue: Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles, US

Date: April 10 – May 29, 2021

Photography: all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

A group show from a mid-pandemic point of view; a sentimental journey for multitaskers and “A Celebration of Specialness”.

Includes work by: BLESS, David Byrne, Aki Goto, Alice Hutchins, Studio of Maki Kinnosuke, Adelle Lutz, Enzo Mari, Ingo Maurer, Issey Miyake, Nintendo, Tomohisa Obana, Toru Otani, Joel Otterson, Tejo Remy, Alma Siedhoff-Buscher and Studio of Kamekichi Tsunajima.

Nonaka-Hill is pleased to share our fondness for tatebanko prints, produced in Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1868) through Meiji Restoration (1868 – 1912). These colorful images, usually depicting important buildings, historic battles, or Kabuki theatre scenes are segmented into multiple image composition parts, swirling in every direction to fill the page. By cutting around the periphery of the images, a small toy diorama could be set up. Perhaps tatebanko were meant to keep children’s little hands busy and minds stimulated while parents do “grown-up stuff”. From a 21st Century point of view, these 3 or 5 sheet suites appear Surreal or Abstract, but in their day, these notions barely existed. Now considered rare, it is a conundrum that the page must be destroyed for the 2D image to reach its 3D potential.

These tatebanko diorama print suites are the inspiration for our meandering exhibition, which stages artworks, design objects, costumes and garments, antique furnishings, film and video, camouflaging with “Wallscape” murals from Bless and a few room accents from Target to create tableau which may, for some, evoke diverse conditions experienced in our current Covid-19 pandemic.

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Joel Otterson, My Shoes, 1988, Mixed media, 60 x 24 x 24 in, 152.4 x 61 x 61 cm

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Joel Otterson, Ballade d’Or, 2015, Wool carpet, velvet, brass, glass, plastic, porcelain and steel, 44 3/4 x 21 1/2 x 3 in, 113.7 x 54.6 x 7.6 cm

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Toru Otani Japanese, 10 of Crabs, 2015, Color pencil, original stamp on “trump card”, 12.1 x 9.6 cm, 4 3/4 x 3 3/4 in; 3 of Crabs, 2015, Color pencil, original stamp on “trump card”., 14.1 x 9.6 cm, 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 in

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Tejo Remy, Rag Chair, 1991, 15 bags of rags, bound in metal strapping. 56 kg, 39 3/8 x 23 5/8 x 23 5/8 in, 100 x 60 x 60 cm

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Aki Goto, Hanten, 2020, Misc. fabrics, hand-stitching, 57 x 30 1/2 in, 144.8 x 77.5 cm

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Studio of Kinnosuke Maki Meiji period (life dates unknown), The Russo-Japanese War: My scouting cavalry in action by the Yalu River, 1904, Meiji 37, Woodblock prints as buildable paper toy set, a triptych, 14 1/4 x 9 5/8 in each, 36cm x 24.5 cm each

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

BLESS, N°56 Worker’s Delight: Rythmer, Stepper: 100% steel with rubber foam protraction, Cushion: 100% cotton cover, 100% polyester filling

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Alice Hutchins, NEBULA, 1971, Magnetic Sculpture in original packaging, repaired paper label

Alice Hutchins, Untitled, ca 1973, Two Alnico magnets, steel balls, metal discs, dimensions variable

Alice Hutchins, Canal Street Series, 1968-2005, Alnico magnet and painted steel component, dimensions variable

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

BLESS, N°56 Worker’s Delight: Neckrestdesk, cushions: cover 100% cotton, filling 100% foam & plywood metal structure: 100% steel with rubber foam protaction colormix, 50 1/2 x 38 x 22 in, 128.3 x 96.5 x 55.9 cm

Adelle Lutz, Urban Camouflage Clothing: Brick Suit, 1986, Mixed media

Adelle Lutz, Urban Camouflage Clothing: Column Dress, 1986, Mixed media

Adelle Lutz, Urban Camouflage Clothing: Brick Suit, 1986, Mixed media

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Busy Work at Home, 2021, exhibition view, Nonaka-Hill, Los Angeles

Tomohisa Obana, 16, 2020, Clay, glaze

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