PRESS RELEASE
TWO STRONG
In “TWO STRONG” Natsuki Takauji and Zhen Guo tackle the ever present and thorny issues faced by strong, intelligent, revolutionary women living in this male dominated world.
Born and raised In Tokyo Ms.Takauji spent twelve years attending a strict Catholic school, a sexually repressed environment that was often troubling, especially as she was daily forced to deal with the inappropriate attentions of older men on her daily commuter train and the far right nationalists who congregated at the Yasukuni Shrine that was near the school. Add to this the daily “ritual” of being a young female in Japan, where the gender inequalities built into the society has led her to create work that interrogates the professed spirituality, ethics, perception and belief systems of modern society. The seductively beautiful intrigue of her oil fountain sculptures speak of the earth’s pillaging, and how oil’s “gifts” blind our entire society to our eventual self destruction.
Zhen Guo’s art was forged during the repressive eleven years of China’s Cultural Revolution. Zhen’s art incorporates her romantic vision of the world, but it is a world where love is beset by anxiety and doubt, where there is little to give comfort and security. Women are especially beset by uncertainty, fear and violence, where being strong enough to fight back is vital, yet they are never allowed proper understanding or respect when they do. She has a powerfully deep understanding of her 4,000 year cultural heritage which prioritizes social responsibility above the individual and she has successfully blended this with her understanding of modern Western artistic traditions. Her large scale punching bags covered with breasts appear entertaining at first glance until you consider the full ramifications of her subversive statement.
Natsuki Takauji
@natsukiuji
Zhen Guo
@zhenguoart
curated by:
William Norton
@norton_william
TWO STRONG
-the gallery LTD- (PeepShow Space a pop up)
October 2, 2020 - November 1,2020
Opening Friday, October 2, from 6-9 pm
Running through Sunday, November 1, 2020
37 North 15th Street
Williamsburg Brooklyn 11222
On the Gem Street Side
The exhibition will be able to be viewed from the street Thursdays and Fridays from 12-6 pm. Saturdays and Sundays the gallery will be open to accept small groups of people at a time from 12-6 pm & small tours can be given on demand by contacting:
William Norton
creativemyth@hotmail.com
917.407.6124
