yasuaki onishi’s installation wraps sculptures in inflating and deflating sheet bags in japan

yasuaki onishi envelops Taro Okamato’s sculptures

In an exploration of artistry and perspective, the seen and the unseen, Japanese artist Yasuaki Onishi presents the installation Exist Between. In collaboration with the sculptural works of Taro Okamato, the project places the pieces in a breathing bag to offer a distinctive lens through which to appreciate them. The core of Yasuaki Onishi’s work lies in the utilization of cylindrical polyethylene sheet bags which gradually envelop the sculptures. The bags, slowly and deliberately, expand and deflate as they are orchestrated by the gentle movement of air within, directed by a fan controlled by a timer. The translucent nature of the bags add an element of intrigue — when inflated, the sculpture within gradually becomes vaguely visible, only to be shrouded again when the bag deflates. The sheets cling to the sculptures, revealing their shape.

the breathing bags explore the seen and the unseen

This rhythmic unveiling and concealing creates a dynamic interplay between the ethereal and the tangible. Within this, artist Yasuaki Onishi infuses an additional layer of symbolism as various brooms are suspended from the ceiling. When the bags inflate, they become engulfed in their embrace. These brooms, inspired by Taro Okamoto’s pet crow, nod to the artist’s connection with the animals he shared his life with, and beyond mere objects, embody the sacred act of sweeping.

The Exist Between installation is part of the Transcend Boundaries: The Artists of the Taro Okamoto Award III exhibition, which unfolds at the Taro Okamoto Museum of Art in Kawasaki, Japan. Running from October 14, 2023, to January 14, 2024, it will invite audiences to explore the interplay between presence and absence.

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project info:

name: Exist Between
designer: Yasuaki Onishi

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