Koki Tanaka (artist)

Koki Tanaka (born 1975, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan) is a contemporary artist working in video, installation, photography, and performance. His practice often involves collaborative projects and experiments that explore everyday objects, situations, and behaviors. Tanaka's work frequently examines the potential for collective action and the disruption of normalized routines, revealing the complexities of social interaction and challenging preconceived notions.

Work and Themes:

Tanaka's early work focused on the manipulation and rearrangement of common household items, often presented in the form of photographs and videos. He explored how seemingly ordinary objects could be imbued with new meaning and potential through simple acts of intervention.

Later in his career, Tanaka shifted his focus to collaborative projects, inviting groups of people to participate in experiments that tested the boundaries of shared experiences. These projects often involved seemingly mundane tasks, such as sharing a haircut, playing a piano with five pianists, or using household items collectively. The resulting videos and installations document the challenges, negotiations, and unexpected outcomes that arise when individuals work together in unconventional ways.

Recurring themes in Tanaka's work include:

• Collectivity: Exploring the dynamics of group interaction and the potential for collective action.
• Everyday Life: Examining the significance of ordinary objects, behaviors, and situations.
• Experimentation: Utilizing participatory projects as a means of investigating social dynamics and challenging norms.
• Process: Emphasizing the importance of the process of collaboration and the unfolding of events over the final outcome.
• Temporality: Acknowledging the fleeting and ephemeral nature of performance and collaborative experiences.

Notable Works and Exhibitions:

• Venice Biennale (2013): Tanaka represented Japan at the 55th Venice Biennale, presenting a multi-channel video installation documenting a series of collective experiments conducted in Venice.
• Precarious Tasks (2012): A series of performances and videos that explored the precariousness of everyday life and labor.
• Abstract Everyday (2009): A solo exhibition at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, showcasing a selection of his works that transformed mundane objects into abstract forms.
• Numerous other solo and group exhibitions internationally.

Awards and Recognition:

Tanaka has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work, including the Special Mention award at the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013. His work is held in public and private collections around the world.

Further Reading:

• (Insert relevant exhibition catalogs or academic articles here - example: "Koki Tanaka: A Vulnerable Narrator," in Artforum, 2013.)