Vanishing

By: Damien Worst
Date: 11th Oct 06
Medium: Installation
Drink: Dandy shandy

What:
Vanishing

When:
October 10 – October 29
Wed -Fri 12-6, Sat 1-5

Where:
Spacement gallery, Watson Place, Melbourne (off Flinders Lane near cnr of Swanston and Collins)

How much:
Free

Image credit:
Vanishing by Kyota Takahashi

Kyota Takahashi's exhibit is part of the ‘Rapt!: Contemporary Art from Japan’ super-exhibition. Showing Melbourne and Sydney how Japanese art extends beyond the meditative (Mori) and cutesy (Murakami), Takahashi's abiding interests are in architecture and light, and Spacement's subtle angles provide a perfect arena for Vanishing.

Spectral figures dance and flicker as shadows on the gallery floor, occasionally blooming to a brilliant white light. The indistinct character of the figures allow a degree of playfulness to enter into the tone of Vanishing, and Takahashi's experience in light projection suffuses the somewhat dry technological premise with energy and wit. Those looking for'Japanese-ness' in Takahashi's work will find their gaze deflected along invisible city streets and shadows and back towards the subject in play, which perfectly captures the intent of the Rapt! projects.

If this isn't enough light-play, there is also Takahashi's Public Projection at the Lonsdale Street Power Station - cnr. Lonsdale Street and Spencer Street on Thursday October 12 and Friday October 13, from 7pm.