Nobu Ueno
Artist Profile
Ueno believes that the significance of artistic activities is enhanced when a set of concrete rules is mutually understood by the viewer and the artist. Like an athlete during a sports match, Ueno feels the artist should creatively attempt to 'shine' within the imposed limitations. During the 1990s Ueno established his maverick reputation through 'Gallery Games', performances which encouraged both artists and viewers to play games within art spaces when security personnel and/or spectators were not present.Since 2004, Ueno has almost exclusively used the medium of photography. Choosing a subject matter and time frame in which to photograph it, his work has commented on artistic expectation and the slippery concept of 'theme'. Though the individual pictures are arresting, Ueno is adamant about considering each project a singular work. Ueno strongly feels that artists should follow whims and pursue diverse themes within their art practice. In major works such as 'Summer of Sobu', 'Toyota' and 'Tokyo Park Project', he demonstrates his love of aesthetic form and color while simultaneously tackling social, historical, political, economic and humanistic themes. Ueno often states, "Anything can be about everything and everything can be about anything."
Artist Statement
"Understanding always enhances appreciation, and appreciation always enhances understanding. Plenty of people already think art is elitist and pretentiously abstract. I want to attack this idea by allowing my viewers to know what I'm attempting to do - give them the rationale behind my work. Within the art-making process, mystery and wonder will happen if provided ample space and time. For me, rules provide the framework. If I started out with complete freedom, I would be paralyzed."Projects
Tokyo Park Project (June 2006 - May 2007)
Rules and Timeframe:
For 1 calendar year, all photographs must include imagery of or be taken within central Tokyo Parks and gardens. Only Parks within the city's 23 central wards may be represented. A single digital camera may be used.Artist Explanation:
"In a survey done by the Japan Times regarding how Tokyoites would like to see their city improved, a huge number of people responded that "Tokyo needs more Parks and green spaces." As a semi-regular Park-goer, this surprised me. The 23 wards of Tokyo are literally home to 10,400 Parks and gardens, ranging from 2 square meters in size to sprawling many-thousand-acre green areas such as Mizumoto Park and Kasai-Rinkai Park. Moreover, the city's Parks are almost silent on weekdays. Even on weekends, most families prefer venturing to Tokyo's shopping malls and city centers.""Parks have always captivated me. In large metropolitan areas, they are places to escape the city and find fresh(er) air. Yet, they are simultaneously the only places to truly 'see' the city. Parks such as Yoyogi in Tokyo and Hampstead Heath in London provide some of best vistas and panoramic views of the cities surrounding them."
"Parks can be either active or passive. 'Active' Parks are reserved for specific purposes while 'passive' Parks are open spaces where the public may do as they please. This has allowed for Park usage to include a shocking array of activities - from hosting homeless communities to providing a place for midnight breakdancing clubs to practice. In fact, I built up a list of activities that I witnessed in Parks during the project - it eventually included over 3,000 things. The sociology of Parks includes groups and solitary individuals, community building and illicit acts - it's simply fascinating what happens at Parks."
"I am also extremely interested in the history of Tokyo's Parks. Though many people view the Parks of Tokyo as simply the remains of an original 'wilderness', this is never the case. 99% of Tokyo's officially designated Parks come from the following sources: [1] Parks built on artificial islands or land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay (Daiba Park, Kasai Rinkai Park, The Tokyo Port Bird Sanctuary, etc.) [2] Parks that were originally the private gardens of royalty or the rich. These were either donated to the city or annexed by the government following the Meiji Restoration or World War II (Rikugien, Meiji Jingu, Shinjuku Gyoen, etc.) [3] Parks that are converted military installations (Komatsugawa Riverside, Yoyogi Park, Hibiya Park, etc.) and [4] Small neighborhood Parks with playground equipment that were established by the post-war government (a majority of local Parks).
"The history of individual Parks is even more intriguing. For example, Tokyo's most popular cruising ground for gay men - Shinjuku Gyoen, which now hosts 4 distinct styles of landscape gardening and a botanical greenhouse, was once a private zoo and golf course for Tokyo's high society. Yoyogi Park, before becoming a popular place for picnics, frisbee throwing and drug use, was the 1964 Olympic Village. Before that it was a military parade ground and residence for U.S. officers during the occupation. Going back yet further, it was the sight of Japan's first air flight by Yoshitoshi Tokugawa in 1910. Few people know that below Yoyogi Park lies Tokyo's largest Parking lot for subway trains." "I had entertained the idea of photographing Tokyo's Parks for a long time when I visited China for the first time in 2006. Waking up at sunrise, I took strolls through both Beijing and Shanghai. While Tokyo's Parks are nearly silent at this time of the morning, the Parks of China were bustling. Even at 6:00 a.m., radios were blaring and square dancers is western costume were swinging to and fro. Groups consisting of hundreds of individuals practiced different styles of Taichi and traditional sword-fighting while dozens of other people played chess or read newspapers. Upon returning to Tokyo, I thought, 'If my taxes are paying for the Parks, I might as well get out there and use them as much as I can'. Over the course of the next year, I enjoyed photographing 554 of them."
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TOYOTA (November 2004 - May 2006)
Rules and Timeframe:
For 18 months, every photograph taken must include a Toyota automobile or reference to the Toyota Corporation. Only a single amateur hand-held camera may be used.Artist Explanation:
"Toyota is the largest manufacturer in the world. It's products are highly mobile and sold in more markets than any other. Living in Japan, it is hard to not see a Toyota when you look out the window. It is a national symbol of pride. However, to some people Toyota represents bad design, corporate greed and the triumph of unregulated capitalism. Toyota can mean almost anything.""Most photographers can be classified into two groups: Those who hunt for specific subject matter and those who ramble around and photograph the interesting scenes or subject matter that happens to pop up. I have always alternated between these two classifications. Luckily, the Toyota project allows me to do both. If I feel like looking for Toyotas, I can look almost anywhere. Moreover, if I'm walking around and come across an interesting scene, all I need to do is wait and a Toyota is bound to drive by. If I happen to be unlucky, I can simply pull the small die-cast metal Toyota model out of my pocket and place it in the scene - perhaps create a 'Where's Waldo' moment for the viewer. If I am too tired to go out, I can photograph Toyotas on the Internet. Moreover, if I look in the newspaper, I will likely see a photograph of Toyota in a flood or one destroyed by a suicide bomber. Toyotas are perfect subject matter if you live in a wealthy globalized nation."