The Japan Society is pleased to announce a special talk by artist Ryohei Kan on the closing evening of his first UK solo exhibition, As you see it, at Yamamoto Keiko Rochaix in Spitalfields, East London. In conversation with Andrew Nishiyama Taylor, a practicing architect with experience of working on civic and cultural projects with artists in Japan, Kan will discuss his work on show, which investigates the issues concerning ‘void’ and ‘reality and conceived reality’.

The works of video, mixed media installation, photography and other graphic works portray various facets of empty space within architectural structures. In his work, Kan explores the boundary between physical reality and created reality, a reality formulated according to human concepts or ideals.

As this will be the closing event of the exhibition, anyone wishing to view the exhibition is advised to do so before the event starts.

Ryohei Kan is an artist from Ehime, Japan, and currently teaches at Tokyo University of the Arts after spending 6 years travelling between Germany and Japan. Kan holds Diploma Meisterschüler from the Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Germany under Prof. Florian Pumhösl, as well as PhD and MFA in oil painting from the Tokyo University of the Arts. Solo exhibitions include: In the Walls, Shiseido Gallery, Tokyo (2017); Room A.EG_05, Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Munich (2014); White Cube, Tokyo Wonder Site Hongo, Tokyo (2013); and Black Box, Yokoi Fine Art, Tokyo (2010). Kan has participated in various group exhibitions including Shell Artists Selection, National Art Center, Tokyo (2018) and The Pandora’s Box: Finding the Wondrous in the Geidai Collection, The University Art Museum, The Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo (2017). Kan has also been the runner-up for the Shiseido Art Egg (2017), the recipient of the Grand-prix of the 1st Makurazaki International Art Award (2016), as well as the Judge’s Award, Shell Art Award 2012. Public collections include University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts and Makurazaki Nameikan Cultural Resource Center, Makurazaki, Japan.

Andrew Nishiyama Taylor is a practicing architect at Make Architects in London, and has worked on a variety of residential and commercial projects for the firm since joining in 2012. Prior to his time at Make, Andrew worked in the studio of Arata Isozaki in Tokyo on civic and cultural projects, including the design of a mobile concert hall to tour Tohoku in collaboration with Anish Kapoor. Outside of practice, Andrew has been a guest tutor in architecture studios of Central Saint Martins in London and the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff.

To reserve your place, please call the Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk or submit the online booking form.To reserve your place.

Free Lecture – booking essential

Free. Priority booking for Japan Society members and their guests
Booking opens to non-members from Monday 6 May.

Book online here
Booking deadline: noon Wednesday 15 May

Co-organised by the Japan Society and Yamamoto Keiko Rochaix