New solo exhibition by Eri Imamura

                

Images clockwise from top left: Living in a Bubble;  Numb; Breathe; details from Living in a Bubble

 

In 2020 I interviewed Japanese textile artist Eri Imamura who creates human sculptures by meticulously beading antique kimonos. Eri currently has a solo exhibition featuring 10 of her stunning artworks, including six new pieces.

 

Inside Manga Bubbles まんがバブルのうちがわ is Eri’s response to the Coronavirus lockdown.  “Relying on the Internet to erase our fears and connect virtually to eachother, [lockdown] isolation was a strangely futuristic experience impacting our minds. The virtual world took over the actual reality. Our existence has become “2.5 dimensional”: halfway between a 2D virtual reality and a 3D physical reality.”

 

Eri has created a 2.5D reality for her current exhibition. It is both immersive and reflective, with hundreds of round mirrors reflecting both the viewer and the beaded work. The viewer is also encouraged to take photographs, further blurring the boundaries between the real and the virtual. “This art project offers a counter-current experience to the viewer: an objective look at our condition and environment from the fictional world of manga bubbles to the physical reality.”

To find out more about Eri’s work read her interview here 

 

Inside Manga Bubbles is exhibiting at Warin Lab Contemporary in Bangkok, Thailand until March 18th For more information visit https://warinlab.com/exhibitions/inside-manga-bubbles/