IKEUCHI combines ready-made plastic models with industrial parts, separating the objects from their original context and imparting them with an entirely new value and meaning through their amalgamation. His work up until now has been influenced by both international and Japanese pop culture franchises from his childhood, such as Star Wars, Zoids and Gundam. The interpretation of his works is dependent on the viewer’ s unique frame of reference. With the combination of internationally recognisable pop imagery and the distinctly Japanese model culture, his works simultaneously evoke a sense of nostalgia, whilst hinting at the near-future through a cyberpunk aesthetic. The embryo of IKEUCHI’ s current style can be observed in his early works that were created after graduating from university, consisting of dioramas formed from the combination of models and computer parts. Nowadays, he produces works that are designed to be worn, with suits, headsets and gadgets created from industrial and technological materials, and are loaded with the potential to evolve in a multitude of directions.
 
An important feature of IKEUCHI’ s work is how they operate on numerous levels, both as a product and a visually interesting artwork. The neat arrangement of small parts, and inorganic colour palette provides visual stimulation with its intricacy, whilst the items used in these assemblages retain their original function. When worn and experienced, the works o er a glimpse of new discoveries that are unique to the person and location, thereby providing a di erent experience than observation alone.The interpretation that is derived from the experience of facing and experiencing the latent functionality of the ready-made and fictional visuals, is something that can be understood without saying it alouDIKEUCHI's works can therefore be seen as a tool for communication, and present a wholly individual method of expression.
 
His unique artistic style has seen him gain the attention of the fashion world, having recently collaborated on BALENCIAGA’ s Spring 2022 collection and campaign visuals, as well as projects with brands shu uemura, and Gentle Monster. His work has been shown in publications such as V Magazine, VOGUE and PURPLE MAGAZINE, as well as featuring on the cover of WIRED ITALIA. IKEUCHI has also collaborated with contemporary musicians such as Arca, the non-binary artist often described as a modern genius, Japanese rapper KOHH and contributed to ASAP Rocky’ s pop-up store TESTING, ensuring he continues to attract attention from a wide variety of Japanese and International media.
 
This exhibition will be IKEUCHI’ s largest solo show to date, and will present a conceptual space featuring full-body suits created with the development and manufacturing team of the body-enhancing robot company, Skeletonics. Visitors will also be able to experience new large-scale works created in collaboration with the interactive design company PROTOTYPE INC, who are active across a wide range of genres including design, technology and art. These will be exhibited alongside a selection of IKEUCHI's previous works to provide visitors the opportunity to see the development and inspiration behind his artistic process. We look forward to welcoming you to an exhibition that promises to be an unprecedented experience within the artist’ s distinctly eccentric environment.

既製品のプラモデルや工業製品のパーツを組み合わせ、本来あるイメージから卓越、そのものへ全く新しい価値を与えるIKEUCHI。これまで彼は、幼少期より影響を受けた「スター·ウォーズ」や「ゾイド」、「ガンダム」などの国内外ポップカルチャーからはじまるイメージに、日本独自の模型文化を掛け合わせることにより、近未来、ノスタルジック、サイバーパンクなど、人によって様々なイメージを想起させるオリジナル表現を構築してきました。大学卒業時、本人のパソコンと模型をあわせたジオラマ作品の制作を切っ掛けに生まれたIKEUCHIのスタイルは、現在では主にスーツやヘッドセット、そしてガジェットなど、身に着ける工業製品をベースに制作するかたちに進化し、そのポテンシャルを常に追求し続けています。
 
また、IKEUCHIによる作品の大きな特徴としてみられるのは、制作の前提として、それらがプロダクトとしての本来ある機能を失わないことにあります。本来の目的を持ちながらも整った細かいパーツの配列、無機質な色使いなど視覚的な面白さを魅せる作品群。さらにそれらを人が装着、体験することによりうまれるのは、本来の芸術鑑賞とはまた異なった、その場、その人にしか得ることのできない固有で新しい発見を我々に垣間見させてくれます。虚構的ビジュアルをまとった既製に潜在する機能性と向き合い、体感したそれぞれから派生する、声に出さずともどこか通じ合う解釈。そんな、一種のコミュニケーションツールにも似た感覚を伴う表現方法は、IKEUCHIの作品独自のものといえるでしょう。
 
彼から生まれる作品と世界観は、BALENCIAGA（バレンシアガ）2022年春コレクション、キャンペーンビジュアルをはじめshu uemura（シュウ ウエムラ）、Gentle Monster（ジェントルモンスター）への作品提供。V magazine、VOGUE、PURPLE MAGAZINEでの特集。WIRED ITALIAでは表紙に選ばれ、更にノンバイナリーとして現代の奇才と呼ばれるArca、国内ではKOHH、Asap RockyのPOP UPストアに参加など、時代を象徴するミュージシャンコラボを実現。現在国内外の多様なメディアから注目を浴び続けています。
 
作家自身にとって最大規模となる本展覧会では、身体拡張ロボット「スケルトニクス」の開発·製造チームと共に制作されたスーツ作品を中心としたコンセプチュアルスペースはじめ、これまで発表してきた作品及び、新しい試みとして、デザイン·テクノロジー·アートを横断的に幅広いジャンルで活躍するPROTO TYPE INCと共同制作した、本展初公開の体験可能な大型新作を展示。さらに、それら作品の制作プロセスや、インスピレーション源も鑑賞することができます。

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