Tsai & Yoshikawa present ‘Reflection’, a new addition to their ‘Bliss of Luxuriance’ series for Roppongi Art Night 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. Their large, mixed-media light installation was especially designed to sit within the Roppongi Hills West Walk.
The 'Bliss of Luxuriance' series explores the effect of light interacting with varied textures, materials and luminous colour-ways to create the impression that the installations are illuminated from within. The radiant colours of 'Reflection' glow vividly from its compact, intricately detailed form, like a mysterious jewel within the Mori Building. By day, fantastical aluminum and acrylic petals glisten and dance in the sunlight; at night, these other-worldly flowers explode like fireworks.
The artwork is composed of hundreds of intricate, hand-sculptured elements in fluorescent colours. Each piece is carefully placed by hand in a time-consuming yet immensely calming process, akin to arranging flowers into a bouquet or clipping bonsai trees to gradually reveal a stylized form. The result is an artwork that is exuberant, expressive and elegant.
Tsai & Yoshikawa use wind and water in their outdoor installations to create natural movements in their sculptures. In this indoor installation, these external elements are replaced by a polished, black acrylic panel which reflects and distorts the fluorescent forms of the sculpture above. This black surface is composed of 36 right-angled triangles, layered together to form a textured geometric pattern that radiates out from the centre. The panels reflective properties mimic the way light moves across water, refracting and bending to create distorted patterns. As the viewer moves around the sculpture the reflections shape-shift, creating a three-dimensional experience akin to observing a hologram.
Exhibition details
Duration: 27 September – 14 October 2024
Location: Roppongi Hills West Walk, 2nd Floor, Roppongi District, Tokyo, Japan
Commissioned by: Roppongi Art Night 2024
Special Thanks:-
Creative Direction: Baba Masato (EAST Inc.)
Artist Coordination: Masaki Nao (Gallery NAO MASAKI)
Construction: 3×8 labo
Cooperation: Takasho Digitec Co. Ltd / Masuki Co.,Ltd.
Photos: © 2024 Masato Baba & Kimiya Yoshikawa
Tsai & Yoshikawa present ‘Daydream’, a series of six installations embedded through the garden spaces of Green Springs, Tachikawa City, Tokyo: Beyond Cascade, Welcome Hugs, Stroll Mountain Water, Bliss of Luxuriance, Fly to Dream, and Drop of Light-Willow.
These immersive artworks interact with their environment to create a fantasy garden, offering visitors a three-dimensional, multi-sensory experience. From Alice in Wonderland to ornaments commonly found in oriental gardens, ‘Daydream’ creates an enchanting realm where diverse imaginations intertwine.
‘Figures and fantasies, happy thoughts and hopes unfurl in the waking mind. Is this the future or the past? It is here that dreamers are freed from the world for a while and roam freely. In a paradise you've never seen, you encounter amazing creatures. And before you know it, you will be reborn like a phoenix, glowing anew in the darkness. You discover and rejoice, free and playful, living your inner daydream.’
Duration: 26 November 2022 - 14 February 2023
Location: GREEN SPRINGS, 3-1, Midoricho, Tachikawa City, Tokyo, 190-0014
Commissioned by: Tachihi Strategy Lab Co., Ltd. for GREEN SPRINGS 2022 WINTER INSTALLATION ‘Daydream’
Photo: Shima Daisuke, Gallery Nao Masaki & Kimiya Yoshikawa
Tsai & Yoshikawa were invited by Hermès to design its 2022 festive window concept for its UK and Ireland stores. A series of artistic window displays and in-store installations were created to celebrate Hermès’ 2022 theme ‘Lighthearted!’
Through the concept, ‘The Tail of the Ocean Carousel’, they take the viewer on an aquatic adventure, crafting an undersea tale in line with the brand’s signature equestrian roots. The enchanted windows depict the shoreline at sunset and the undersea world at night, each with its own narrative, individual yet connected.
The exclusive “saddle flower”, constructed with horseshoe-shaped elements, together with metallic turritella shells and a “paper-cutting horse”, in which the plants spread like sprawling wings or streaming tresses within a whimsical narrative, reflect the equestrian heritage of Hermès. The process of colour-layering is key to the shimmering and glossy surface, in tribute to the exquisite craftsmanship of Hermès.
‘Deep under the sea we find the enchanted carousel spinning like a spinning top. With each rotation it is awakening, summoned by the spirit of the ocean, its elements unravelling, flaring out into a radiant starburst. “Let me light your way!” whispers the magical spirit of the sea to each horse and, enchanted, they gallop free, excitedly carrying ribbons of colour, to begin our aquatic adventure.’
Duration: November 2022 - March 2023
The in-store festive installations for Hermès London Bond Street, and London Sloane Street, end on 03 January 2023.
You can continue to view the main window displays at Hermès London Bond Street, London Sloane Street, London Royal Exchange and Dublin until March 2023.
Location: Hermès UK and Ireland; main window displays: London Bond Street, London Sloane Street, London Royal Exchange and Dublin
Photo : Melvyn Vincent & Kimiya Yoshikawa
Tsai & Yoshikawa present ‘Drop of Light – Flow’, part of ‘A New Era of Taikang’ 開江紀 art exhibition – a series of installations across the Annan District of Tainan (formerly known as Taikan台江), Taiwan, to celebrate the area’s 200th anniversary and to explore the relationship between the Taikang people and their environment.
This commission considers the relationship between water and humanity. Located in the historic, vibrant space of Tainan City’s Wholesale Agricultural Market, the artwork takes the beautiful Taikang River 台江 as its theme and - through abstract forms - transforms the river water into organic shapes that resemble leaves and feathers. The sculptures float high above the busy market, reflecting the complex interplay between the community and the river in the shaping of the district.
‘Drop of Light – Flow’ consists of a series of modules, suspended from the hall ceiling. The pieces display vibrant gradations of pearlescent colours that reflect the shimmering surface of water. As they twist and twirl above the traders, occasionally merging and separating, they create harmonious variations in form that resemble the flow of a river through the market.
Drop of Light – Flow 2023 Aluminium, pearlescent gradient paint 245 x 34 x 34 cm (each); 260 x 510 x 430 cm (overall)
Duration: 01 July – 01 October 2023
Location: Tainan City Wholesale Agricultural Market, No. 102, Sec. 2, Yi'an Rd., Annan Dist., Tainan, Taiwan
Commissioned by: The Cultural Affairs Bureau, Tainan City Government
Curator: Kuo-Chun Chiu, Mild Art
Photos: Mild Art
The bespoke nine-storey high artworks Aquatic Flora I & II by Tsai & Yoshikawa sit inside St. Thomas' Hospital's new East Wing glass atria and depict large, eye-catching botanical forms ‘like floating plants in an aquarium’. They are artistic alternatives to the fish tanks often found in hospital waiting rooms, to provide a chance for therapeutic observation by evoking the effect of underwater plants that sway relaxingly. The designs were selected after receiving more than 50 per cent of votes from patients and staff who took part in an extensive consultation exercise.
Working in a hospital environment brought some new challenges to the artists, as to ensure patient safety the artwork had to comply with strict infection control and fire safety regulations. Consequently, the artists worked closely with the project management team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, the architects, Hopkins, the contractors, ISG, and project manager Mace to ensure the artwork was a truly integrated part of the redevelopment, and to identify the ideal construction and rigging materials to meet the artistic and technical brief.
Aquatic Flora I & II are on permanent display at East Wing, St. Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH. It was commissioned by Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust for new East Wing atriums.
Aquatic Flora I & II, 2017
Marine-grade aluminium, powder coating, stainless steel, polycarbonate, acrylic paint
3000 x 600 x 600 cm each
8-min short video documentation
Photos: Tiffany Lin Photography
Drawing inspiration from the art of paper cutting, Tsai & Yoshikawa specialise in transforming two-dimensional patterns into three-dimensional shapes; also, they utilise different sculptural materials to simulate the flexible texture and textile-like qualities of papers. Installed along the beach, Whisper of the Sea consists of stretchy neoprene elements resembling unique, intricate paper cut-outs. With its sophisticated composition in the shape of flying birds, curly flowers, and various geometric figures, the work creates a woven-like structure which is embedded in a span of tree branches. The resulting landscape sculpture takes the form of a turritella shell, allowing the wind-induced vibrations to resonate through the work —— it serves as the medium that meets the ever-changing sunlight and rays of refraction on Yuguang Island, from dawn to dusk. In short, accompanied by the nature sounds of ocean waves, the artists embark on a journey of colours that corresponds to the light scattering by seawater through their wide-ranging explorations of materials, structure, and texture simulation.
‘WHISPER OF THE SEA’ 《海的耳語》2021 Neoprene 1200 x 2000 x 400 cm
Duration: 27 March 2021 - 18 April 2021 Location: Yuguang Island, Anping District, Tainan Organiser: Tainan City Government Curator: UrbanART Studio
Tsai & Yoshikawa presents three large-scale sculptural installations in Moat Lights for 2021 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Hsinchu- Phototaxis 2021 台灣燈會新竹市 萬物逐光. Rising gracefully above the water, the representation of Light, Wind and Dreams is a tribute to the CMY colour model, articulating the eternal cycles of Mother Nature by depicting contrasts of water fluidity and the durable solid acrylic. Adding dense fluorescent colours onto aluminium and stainless steel supports surreal forms and recalls the vitality of the work. The natural movement patterns of the three flowers spontaneously flow with the water current and romantically weaving a picturesque on the water, resulting in visionary imagery to prompt everyone to light up their soul and follow their dreams.
‘Light, Wind and Dreams’ 《風．光．逐夢》2020 Acrylic, aluminium, fluorescence paint, stainless-steel pipes and stainless-steel wire 455 x 420 x 525 cm
Duration: 25 December 2020 - 7 March 2021, lights on 5 - 10pm
Location: Intersection of Wenhua Street and Lane 65, Ren'ai Street, Hsinchu City, Taiwan
Organiser: Hsinchu City Government
Curator of Moat Lights: UrbanART Studio
A Couplet is a pair of entrance facade sculptures located at Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Centre in Manchester. Made from brightly coloured aluminium and stainless steel, this landmark work is inspired by the historical identity of the town and contrasts with the stone building surrounding it. It takes elements from its industrial past, such as forged iron, paper (papyrus tree), wool, cotton, the weaving industry, to create abstract elements.
In Asia, traditionally you will find a pair of guardianship statues or paintings outside the entrance doorways of public buildings, such as pairs of lions, angels, or even intimidating warriors. They are the symbols to bring good fortune and prosperity and people believe that they can prevent bad luck. A Couplet acts as a welcoming symbol to greet people to Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Centre and also an intriguing attraction to entice visitors.
Tsai & Yoshikawa created a wonderful exhibition, ‘Scintilla From Our Sun’, in 2014 which was also part of the Asia Triennial Manchester.
A Couplet, 2014
Pair of site-specific permanent façade sculptures
Marine-grade aluminium, powder coating, stainless steel
400 x 360 x 146 cm each
“初光之曜” | 光源台北 - 2023台灣燈會在台北
Tsai & Yoshikawa present ‘First Light’, their contribution to the 2023 Taiwan Lantern Festival, which welcomes the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. The lantern-style installation winds its way through the lush trees of Yanji Park, Taipei, blending the modern and the traditional.
Traditional lanterns are made by highly-skilled artisans, using thin strips of bamboo and wires to build complex, three-dimensional frames. Beautiful, thin fabrics are then stretched around these structures like skins to create decorative objects such as flowers, dragons and other symbolic creatures. Our artwork is a modern interpretation of these methods.
We use the branches from a group of banyan and maple trees to create our decorative frame. The 'skin' is then formed by suspending hundreds of light-weight, neoprene elements between the leaves and branches, creating a large-scale, colourful cloud that appears to float in mid-air.
During the day, these organic forms resemble colourful flowers, blossoming on the trees. At night, the structure of the trees recedes, and the installation transforms into a dazzling, starry sky.
Duration: 05 - 19 February 2023
Location: Yanji Park, Da'an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Commissioned by: Taipei City Government
Curator of Beacons of Light Display Zone: Hu’s Art
Photo: Yue-Shiuan Tu, Hu’s Art
Tsai & Yoshikawa’s remarkable dynamic sculptures and installations transform spaces through vivid colours, unexpected materials, complex shapes, explosive forms and innovative uses of light and darkness.
‘The Light and Dark Fantastic’ (2012 - 2013) was curated by Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery in Ealing London (formerly known as PM Gallery & House).
This exhibition then toured to The Public, West Bromwich in spring 2013.
During Asia Triennial Manchester 2014, Bury Art Museum & Sculpture Centre featured a major solo exhibition of Tsai & Yoshikawa’s work, Scintilla From Our Sun, bringing together this series of light sculptures and installations which collectively grouped to form a dialogue as one new work.
Tsai & Yoshikawa’s The Lion received the runner-up award in the prestigious Marsh Award for Excellence In Public Sculpture 2009 in the UK.
The Lion is a striking contemporary interpretation of a traditional Chinese symbol of greeting and guardianship. This exciting iconic sculpture was chosen as the winning proposal of the International Wardour Street Sculpture Commission, organised by Chinese Art Now (CAN), with sponsorship from corporate landlords Shaftesbury PLC.
It consists of thousands of colourful, individually laser cut pieces of Perspex; each piece represents the varied and diverse range of East Asians living in the UK today. Assembling this diversity of shapes and colours into The Lion symbolises the aspiration to unify the disparate elements of the East Asian communities into a strong, harmonious whole.
The Lion was formally unveiled on 8 April 2009 on the corner of Wardour Street and Shaftesbury Avenue.
The Lion, 2009
Site-specific outdoor permanent public sculpture
Perspex, Jesmonite, fiberglass, steel
360 x 145 x 115 cm
Tsai & Yoshikawa reveals a new mixed-media light installation Bliss of Luxuriance in Taipei Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.
The work is inspired by Albizia blossoms and portrays an abstract presentation of a flower fluttering and dancing in the breeze. In the daytime, this floral light installation with colourful and vivid fluorescent petals reaches out and dances gradually with the sunlight. At night, the work illuminates and blooms like fireworks, presenting luminescent imagery of an endless life cycle.
Borrowing from the ideas of fractal structure in botanic studies, the work is seen with various delicate organic structures. Using the elongated feature positioned in the centre of two window frames in Songshan Cultural and Creative Park as the axis for the work, it layers up the imagery of the work with the reflection of water on the ground. The artists use enduring materials such as aluminium and Perspex to embody the idea of sustainability and eternity. Coloured with vivid fluorescent paint, fluorescent-shaped petals reflect the delicacy of light and shadow. At night, the work shines and glows in the dark, creating the vitality of photosynthesis. With the combination of the dream-like reflection in the water, the entire work becomes a celebration of dance in nature.
It is an art piece where visitors are welcome to enjoy it physically both during daytime and at night because the appearance of this installation transforms when observed from different spatial positions and the constancy over time. Senses in humans are more powerful when you view the work in the environment. As Tsai & Yoshikawa deeply believes that, mankind’s senses are different between reality and online worlds as the genuine face-to-face visiting experience triggers stronger emotions and a stronger visual impact in memories, which has been a significant motivation in their artistic career to create such impressive installation.
Bliss of Luxuriance
2020
Aluminium, fluorescent paint, Perspex, stainless steel wire
280 x 300 x 120 cm each
Commissioned by Songshan Cultural and Creative Park 松山文創園區 for Plant A Trip (蘵人Style) exhibition 16 - 25 October 2020
Tsai & Yoshikawa collaborate with Gallery Nao Masaki in Nagoya for ‘Midland Christmas 2019 White Fantasia’ in Midland Square. Their dynamic public art includes a 23m tall Christmas art installation fluctuating through the atrium, creating a graphical snow pattern.
Commissioned by Midland Square, White Christmas theme is an interesting brief to their usual colourful sculpture. The artists mix various materials to play with the light reflection and the shinny and matte texture, creating a moment of dancing with the change of light. The concept is about the falling snow and visualising an enchanted magical fairyland. Every element gets awaken by the fairy and creates a cheerful orchestra after all.
White Fantasia, 2019
Foyer mixed-media installation
Acrylic, neoprene, light bulbs, aluminium, stainless steel
Christmas Tree: 5 x 3 m
Hanging sculptures: 18 x 3.5 m
Photos: Masaya Miyata
A site-specific outdoor public sculpture in the public square surrounded by train and bus stations, Hamamatsu City, Japan.
Nebulous Bouquet was inspired by the city’s famous handheld firework festival and the vibrant street carnival in 2012. ‘Nebulous’ has the meaning of being in the form of a cloud or haze. Portrayed as an unidentified flying object, the artwork flashes in the pan that it chooses to appear in the mundane daily life for a moment and disappears quickly after the festival.
Nebulous Bouquet, 2012
Neoprene
700 x 550 x 550 cm
Commissioned by Creative Support Lets
Public square surrounded by train and bus stations, Hamamatsu City, Japan
Inspired by Albizia blossoms, each flower is made of aluminium alloy, stainless steel, and Perspex to present the intangible botanic and flowers blossom in spring. The use of durable materials embodies the idea of sustainability and eternity. This delicate floral sculpture with vivid fluorescent colours reveals a sense of vibrancy during the daytime. The transparency of materials creates distinctive arrays of light and shadow, creating an image of interweaving clouds in the sky and showing the lively vitality. At night, the artwork shines in the darkness as if an unidentified space object travels through an aura of mysterious surrealism. It is an energetic stereoscopic piece of work that invites audiences to experience from various perspectives based on their point of view and the time of their visit.
The Glamour of Albizia, 2019
Outdoor sculpture
Stainless steel, aluminium, powder coating, Perspex, wood base, stone
450 x 300 x 300 cm
Hua is inspired by the glorious Yuejin Lantern Festival. With organic floral patterns and shapes, it is portrayed in vibrant colours, exploding outwards and creating a cheerful atmosphere of the spring blossom. It symbolises the historical background of old Yuejin and its prosperous life. Using 3D carvings, Hua is interwoven into an abstract botanical cloud. In the daytime, the colours are bright and vivid; as night falls, the work takes on a different appearance as its fluorescent colours glow and shimmer in the dark. It is like a huge, surreal and mysterious object that is landed from the outer space.
Hua, 2019
Light sculpture
Perspex, Neoprene, wood, UV lights
400 x 500 x 500 cm
Commissioned by Yuejin Lantern Festival
Location: Tainan, Taiwan
Harvey Nichols has once again collaborated with Tsai & Yoshikawa on its latest window scheme.
In celebration of the joys of spring, the display features 10 of the original artworks taken from the ‘Futuristic Flowers’ design that originally adorned the store’s façade in 2007. Compiled from 108 boldly coloured aluminium cut-outs; hand bent into 3D organic forms and hung with multicoloured metal chains, each window features an original piece of art from the duo, and is treated as an individual art installation.
Until 10th of June, the 40 metres long art installation is on display at Harvey Nichols, 109 - 125 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RJ.
Joys of Spring, 2017
Seven front window display art installations
Aluminium, Neoprene, Perspex
550 x 400 x 200 cm
Commissioned by Harvey Nichols department store
Photos: Tiffany Lin Photography
Futuristic Flowers is a series of seven large-scale art installations, commissioned by Harvey Nichols department store for its Spring/ Summer window display totalling 40 meters (130 foot) in length. 3D cutting techniques were employed to create individual organic, plant-like structures. These were combined with Yoshikawa’s signature layered balloon sculptures. The balloons have a blown glass quality, which in multiple creates a sharp contrast to the matt surfaces of the foam in the installation.
Futuristic Flowers was first displayed in the main Knightsbridge store in London throughout London Fashion Week. The installation later toured the other UK Harvey Nichols branches.
Futuristic Flowers, 2007
Seven front window display art installations
Neoprene, balloons
550 x 400 x 200 cm
Chelsea College of Arts, London invited alumni Hsiao-Chi Tsai and Kimiya Yoshikawa to produce an outdoor public sculpture for Henry Moore Plinth Project. It is placed on the plinth where one of Henry Moore’s most significant sculptures is usually installed, Reclining Figure No.1, next to Tate Britain.
Taken inspiration from the courtyard's absent iconic split-figure sculpture by Henry Moore, Tsai & Yoshikawa create a bench-like sculpture to echo with Moore’s ideas in his sculptures King and Queen and Mother and Child – of dividing the human figure into two parts and exploring our relationship with the landscape.
As the viewer moves around the sculpture, Moore's explanation of two abstract forms allows us to explore the relation of the work to the landscape. The piece offers endless visual possibilities, of the two parts being separated and reconnected from all different angles. With closer inspection, it reveals intricate details of abstract shapes, patterns and textures that dance with the changing light.
Tsai & Yoshikawa Figure No.1, 2015
Outdoor sculpture for Henry Moore Plinth Project
Mirror stainless steel, powder coating, steel, Perspex
175 x 70 x 70 cm and 165 x 110 x 110 cm
Commissioned by Chelsea College of Arts, sponsored by Taiwanese Ministry of Culture.
Location: Henry Moore Courtyard, Chelsea College of Arts, Millbank, London.
Photos: Tiffany Lin Photography
Gladiolus Sparks is a commission work for ‘Blazing Bloom’ spring exhibition in Mitsukoshi Department Store in Tainan.
Using the layering technique, the artwork is highlighted with fluorescent tones that look like splendid fireworks. It welcomes visitors and offers surprises in this creative public space.
Commissioned by Mitsukoshi Department Store
Later exhibited in B.B.ART Gallery, Tainan
Gladiolus Sparks, 2018
Stainless steel, marine-grade aluminium, Neoprene, stones
300 x 180 x 130 cm
It is the second participation for Tsai & Yoshikawa to participate in the contemporary art exhibition organised by Fubon Art Foundation in Taipei's East District.
They adopt boldly coloured objects and fine-cut shapes to create an incredible, larger-than-life flower that catches the instant focus of the exhibition ‘Power of Color’. Taking advantage of the unique exhibition setting, the artists fill up the space between beams and columns in a tobacco factory with this distinctive balloon installation.
The flamboyant piece leaves viewers a strong visual impact, resembling a mysterious creature slumbering inside an antiquated building, and is awakened by incoming visitors. Viewers are encouraged to imagine their way to the fantasyland that is uniquely their own.
Origin of The Secret – Nebula, 2012
Perspex, Jesmonite, fiberglass, wood, LED light bulbs, balloons
Dimensions variable
Fubon Art Foundation ‘Power of Color’ Very Fun Park 2012 official website
Origin of The Secret – Nebula on Google Arts & Culture
Commissioned by Lake Hamana Garden Park, it is a group of three outdoor sculptures on the water. It was exhibited as part of “10th-year anniversary of Hamanako Flower Exposition” in Lake Hamana Garden Park, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Stroll-Mountain-Water, 2014
Outdoor sculptures on the water
Marine-grade aluminium, powder coating, stainless steel
280 x 280 x 180 cm
280 x 280 x 180 cm
150 x 150 x 90 cm
Location: Lake Hamana Garden Park, Hamamatsu, Japan
Tsai & Yoshikawa installed three unusual, large-scale and dynamic sculptures on a historic street as the part of an ‘Arts in Empty Spaces’ initiative in Hull City, England.
The installation, located on Hull’s Whitefriargate street and entitled Rainbow-Friargate. The artworks are inspired by the seaport character of Hull and are made up of a range of materials from balloons to ultra-violet paints.
The biggest sculpture among the three is the eight-metre tall Rainbow-Friargate Float; an intensely colourful site-specific piece adorning two large trees in the middle of the street. Organic cut-out shapes weave in and out of the tree’s branches, connecting upper parts of the two trees together and creating a vibrant explosion of colours, textures and shapes.
Another two works Blooming Propeller and Firework Celebration are light sculptures, which change colours from day to night, have also transformed the windows of empty shop units imaginatively whilst engaging with the surrounding environment, to bring continued vibrancy and a cheerful atmosphere to the Whitefriargate Street.
The project has been commissioned by Hull City Council and Arts Council England, and project managed by the city’s architecture centre, Arc. The aim is to celebrate and animate this very special part of Hull and forms part of a wider programme of activity aimed at encouraging interest in the city.
Rainbow-Friargate Float, 2011
Neoprene
Dimensions variable
Light Arrangement - Blooming Propeller, 2011
Wall-based light sculpture
Perspex, neoprene, lightbulb
190 x 190 x 90 cm
Firework Celebration, 2011
Balloons, neoprene
240 x 240 x 160 cm
Radically altering our experience of space, the duo’s colourful vinyl work has transformed the interiors of Kerry Centre Shanghai with multifaceted graphics. Tsai & Yoshikawa create a series of three-dimensional and two-dimensional artworks for Jing An Kerry Centre’s theme of Love Together. They take possession of the spaces with an inspiration to happiness, passion and love. The artworks incline together in all respects to create the concept of love. The pieces are loving in its every perspective and the imagery depicted goes beyond portraiture in any case, beautifully soft and sultry composition.
Love at Heartbeat, 2019
Foyer mixed-media sculptures
Steel, stones, neoprene, felt, Perspex, wood, light bulbs
20 x 4.5 m
When love meets, the heartbeat becomes more noticeable and chemistry happens. The feeling is like riding a roller coaster or being in a tornado. The love chemistry spirals out of control and waves up high. Artists’ signature mixed-media light sculptures ‘Pop Bloom’ and ‘Stars’ highlight the moment of surprise and happiness that jumping from our heart. The vivid colour scheme of the red heart contrasts with the green details presents playfulness. Their soft sculptures offer the viewers a perfectly picturesque spot while the specially designed seating area is a place where love meets.
Infinity Love, 2019
a series of infinity drawings
Printed mirror and vinyl
Dimensions variable
Each viewer is presented with individual unique experiences while enjoying Tsai & Yoshikawa’s infinity mirror art installation. Inspired by the long corridor space and mirrored ceiling, the artists create ‘Infinity Love’ with their abstract colourful paintings’ motifs. When viewers walk through the corridor, they are immersed in this infinity space. The patterns crossing over the parallel mirrors overlap and create layers of infinity patterns. When an individual walks through the corridor and looks at the reflecting surface, it completes the artwork and creates your unique experience. It is like how love meets, and chemistry happens. Not one experience is the same. The viewers are welcome to interact with the piece with their loved ones or even a stranger.
Photos: Jing An Kerry Centre
As part of Greenwich Peninsula’s ongoing commitment to bringing art to unusual places, By the River’ by Hsiao-Chi Tsai & Kimiya Yoshikawa is an eye-catching and intricate public artwork for the facades of their residential and commercial properties.
The name of the artwork reflects the abstract yet figurative artwork took reference and inspired by the unique geographical location of Greenwich Peninsula being wrapped three sided by the River Thames, and its history being marshland with wildlife and iris flowers, which disappeared after industrial revolution, but now is being brought back to the area’s ecology park It also reflects the artwork is formed around the three buildings and linked harmoniously as a whole.
The artists hope that By the River celebrates Greenwich Peninsula’s past, present and future, capturing the inspiring lifestyle and lively atmosphere it offers and is a dynamic cheerful artwork that is visually welcoming and can be enjoyed by all members of the community and the visitors in the neighbourhood.
By the River, 2018
Site-specific public art for three building façade
Vinyl
2700 cm in height
Commissioned by Now Gallery, for Greenwich Peninsula mixed-used development
Location: North Greenwich, London, UK
Photos: Marc Wilmot
It depicts an unidentified space object travels from an aura of mysterious surrealism, weaving amongst the branches and the pine needles of luscious pine trees to form a marching-like parade leading visitors to the beach.
Venue: Sea Art Festival in Dadaepo Beach in Busan, South Korea, 2019.9.28 to 2019.10.27
Nebulous Bouquet – Couplet, 2019
Site-specific outdoor public sculpture
Neoprene
Dimensions variable
Tsai & Yoshikawa were invited by Asian Cultural Council for DA-AI Art Festival during the two-month artist in residency in Hsin-Chu Prefecture, in Taiwan.
Tsai and Yoshikawa created a site-specific art installation Origin of the Secret in a lifeless abandoned concrete building. The inner part of the installation is assembled from locally sourced small colourful objects: baskets, toys, netting. The outer shell of the creature-like installation is constructed from over 700 magnifying glasses. As the viewer moves around the sculpture, the patterns through the magnifying lens change and distort. Thus, the self-illuminated giant creature in a dark room appears to have awakened and come alive via human interaction with the installation.
Origin of The Secret, 2007
Magnifying glass, found objects, wood
220 x 360 x 320 cm
A Sunshine is a new sculptural installation, commissioned specifically for Art Experiment 3, Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow, Russia.
It is the artists’ first project combining the use of sculpture and video projection. In this work, colourful moving images are superimposed onto white and mirrored silver, generating an immersive work reminiscent of the rays and energy of the sun. Simultaneously, the light of the projection results in the formation of a beautiful reflection within the sculpture itself.
A Sunshine is a source of happiness, offering a powerful visual experience for the viewer, which at once suggests both exotic flowers and infinite, cosmological formation.
Art Experiment is an annual event that enables visitors to interact with art in new and unexpected ways at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow.
A Sunshine, 2013
Wall-based moving media sculpture
Neoprene, polystyrene mirror, balloons, video projection
450 x 450 x 100 cm
Article by Caitlind r.c. Brown & Wayne Garrett ‘Meet the Artists Behind Art Experiment 2013’
Yoshikawa created four paintings to represent The Four Symbols around the foyer inside the hospital. The symbols are four mythological creatures appearing among the Chinese constellations along the ecliptic and viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions.
They are the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise (also called "Black Warrior") of the North.
Each abstract painting has its own guardians hidden inside the natural landscape.
Mountain - Tozainanboku, 2010
Four permanent large-scale foyer paintings
(“Nanboku” means north-south and “Tozai” means east-west in Japanese)
Commissioned by Fukui Kosei Hospital in Fukui, Japan.
Mountain of North
Acrylic on canvas
500 cm x 100 cm
Mountain of South
Acrylic on canvas
500 cm x 100 cm
Mountain of West
Acrylic on canvas
300 cm x 100 cm
Mountain of East
Acrylic on canvas
300 cm x 100 cm
Time to Time = Space to Space, developed from a studio project was created as a site-specific installation shown at the Elisabeth Kyle Gallery in London. It is composed of a series of rotating disks with slots into which the viewer can walk. Only his or her head is visible to another viewer. As each rotates their specific disk, they come into contact with other individuals and can communicate directly. At other times they are alone and isolated.
Time to Time = Space to Space, 2007
Chipboard, timber, paint, mirror film
430 x 825 x 281 cm
In July 2002, Yoshikawa participated in a two-man exhibition ‘Public Spiece’ at the Canolfan Gallery in Nagoya, Japan. Yoshikawa transformed the gallery space into an interactive installation, called Orange Space. It became the very first work of his Head Project installation series.
Orange Space, 2002
Plywood, timber, screw, paint
580 x 700 x 309 cm
Chat Room, a hanging installation, was created and shown at the Trinity Bowy Warf Gallery in London in 2002.
In 2004, Kimiya was invited by Art Review to exhibit Chat Room in a group exhibition ‘GROUT’ in The Empire Studio, London.
Chat Room, 2002
Cloth, cardboard, string, pegs, light
250 x 300 x 100 cm
In summer 2005, Yoshikawa was commissioned to transform the interior of a traditional country house in Japan. He designed and handcrafted individual tiles, to create a tactile colourful ceramic wall that defined the kitchen area. In the rest of the house, he created a soft pastel drawing, applying coloured plaster directly onto the original wall, transforming the interior into a contemporary space.
The Yamami Project, 2005
Enamel glazing on porcelain
168 x 350 cm
The Yamami Project, 2005
Coloured plaster on the wall
Dimension variable
Location: The Yamami House, Aichi, Japan
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for its historic Orangery Restaurant commissioned Hsiao-Chi Tsai this sculptural wall hanging. The three-dimensional cutout shapes of the hanging are inspired by the shadows and movements of the reflected Chrysanthemums in the waters of the Gardens. The banner was entirely hand made offering a very intimate quality to the piece which acts in stark contrast to the grandness of its setting.
Chrysanthemums Falling, 2005
W 300 x H 500 x D 30 cm
