Artist Talk with Kengo Kito and Miwako Tezuka

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes preview of the HRM’s new West Wing with this special talk, featuring artist Kengo Kito, who will be interviewed by art historian Miwako Tezuka, PhD, surrounded by his immersive, site-specific exhibition, Unity on the Hudson. They will discuss his work and how he created the installation using thousands of colorful hula hoops as a metaphor for people’s interconnectedness and our relationship to the Hudson River. Q&A and a reception with the artist to follow. Translation by Sumiko Takeda.

Kengo Kito studied art in Japan at Nagoya University of Fine Arts and Music and Kyoto City University of Fine Arts and Music. He primarily uses everyday objects, like hula hoops, chains, mirrors, umbrellas, and other daily objects to create sculptures, installations, and videos inspired by the natural world, including the study of biology and ecosystems. His numerous solo exhibitions include Japan House, Los Angeles (2021), the Humanities Gallery in Long Island University (2009), the Esplanade in Singapore (2008), and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo (2007).

Dr. Miwako Tezuka is Associate Director of the Reversible Destiny Foundation, a progressive artist foundation in New York established by Arakawa and Madeline Gins. Previously, she held the positions of Gallery Director of Japan Society, New York (2012–15), and Curator of Contemporary Art at Asia Society Museum, New York (2005–12). She has curated numerous exhibitions of artists, including Kimsooja, Maya Lin, Mariko Mori, Yoshitomo Nara, Pinaree Sanpitak, teamLab, Yang Fudong, among many others. Her most recent large-scale project as Associate Curator includes the Hawai’i Triennial 2022 which featured 46 artists and art collectives from the Asia and Pacific regions at seven venues throughout Honolulu. Tezuka holds a doctorate in post-war Japanese art history from Columbia University and is Co-Director of PoNJAGenKon, a global network of over 250 postwar Japanese art scholars and curators.