Yomiuri Shibun, Newspaper, 10 September 1998
A small story box
"Chumon no Ooi Tenrankai- Multiple Request Gallery.”
by Rica Takashima. October, at Canal City Hakata.
I’ll draw your precious things.
If I draw your important things or things on your mind--
"Multiple Request Gallery" displaying Rica Takashima's art works of your requests will be held from Oct.1 through November 3, 1998 at the Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka.
Rica has brought an open-air art event called "Aozora Art” on a pedestrian precinct in Harajuku, Tokyo as her artistic activity. The "Multiple Request Gallery” exhibition is a part of a biennial contemporary art event, "Museum City Fukuoka". She receives requests from anywhere, such as on the street, by letter, or through Internet...and these contents are in great variety.
For instance, some lovely requests from a 7-year-old girl "myself jumping rope, I finally succeeded a cross-backward jump!” or from a 12-year-old girl "A school backpack which I have used for six years since my grandpa bought it for me.”, and a meaningful request by 30-year-old man "A key of the house I used to live in. It was both a happy and a sad memory.” From a housewife who recently moved, "A photograph of my children and myself who just moved and are very anxious about our new environment.” Or from a woman who works at a TV production company "A sick TV.” She says that some TV programs are really distorted nowadays.
"At the exhibition, you can think about things around you and enjoy people’s thoughts about them.
You can imagine a story from each of them, can't you?” says Rica Takashima. So all requests have to be practical subjects. You cannot order something unrealistic; "a picture Kimu-taku of myself; a super male idol in Japan,” or "last night’s dream.” Come to the exhibition with a memory of your real boyfriend !
Picture at the left: "A ruler which I used for a college entrance examination .” Rica painting this request at former Gokusho elementary school.
from editorial department:
I requested "a beeper message from my friend inside" on "Multiple Request Gallery."
It must be fun to look for and find the painting I requested.
I'm really looking forward it !
Masumi, writer
