RSVP London

Private View:
Thursday 6 March 6.30-8.30

Exhibition Dates & Times:
7 March- 5 April 2008
Wed-Sat 12.30-5

BEARSPACE is delighted to present “Planet of Rabbits,” the first UK solo exhibition of works by Japanese artist Toshie Takeuchi. Takeuchi’s work explores the drifting and sometimes confusing border between fantasy and reality in this debut exhibition. Using this as a mirror, Takeuchi develops further comparisons between internal and external spaces, fantasy and horror and the parent vs. child debate of the tangible.
The artist creates large-scale digital montages exploring particular issues of children’s mentality and relationship with their parents. In this panoramic series only children are present, without parental figures, showing freedom, danger and exploration of psyche. Sans-adults, the planet portrayed is a mysterious dark playground, taking elements of Japanese horror and unsettling themes overlaid with cute stereotypes and often-classical scenery. The montages in “Planet of Rabbits” portray a delicate and complex scene drawing from novels like ‘Grimm’s Fairy Tales.’ The enigmatic aura of this Planet of Rabbits is a metaphor for youth’s frustration with not being understood, particularly by their parents.
When the artist lived on a housing estate in London, she met many children through daily interactions. The artist began “Planet of Rabbits” through everyday observations of their lives in this closed surrounding. Now living in Japan, Takeuchi explores other environments, which echo this specified social situation. She finds interest in key social problems that effect and are caused by young people. The asymmetrical urbanscapes symbolize the concept of reality and fantasy co-existing in our world.