Kanazawa, Japan, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, 2009

200 Artworks – 25 Years, Artists’ Editions for Parkett
All 200 editions made by artists for Parkett, with new catalogue raisonné
September 4 – 26, 2009

Exhibition press release:
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, Vanessa Beecroft, Maurizio Cattelan, Meret Oppenheim, Juan Munoz and Mariko Mori are just some of the artists brought together for this show in a celebration of works exhibited in and around an imaginary house.

Commissioned by the influential journal Parkett since 1984, some 200 of the most important artists of our time have created works that represent the essence of their art or reveal an unexpected dimension. The exhibition includes Hirst’s ping-pong ball hovering on the hot air of a hair dryer and Oppenheim’s surrealist veined gloves.

Artists have created editioned works through the century to bring avant garde art and ideas to the public while infusing commodity culture with poetry, politics, and aesthetics.

Parkett’s ‘aim to produce a vehicle of direct confrontation with art’ led to the creation of a journal that is artist-driven; each art work relates to a particular publication. The works cover every possible medium including painting, page art projects, photographs, drawings, prints, sculptures, videos, DVDs and sound pieces. First seen at MoMA in New York, this exhibition also provides a concise overview of developments in contemporary art over the last 25 years.

The exhibition space is transformed into 5 rooms: a Studio, a Playroom, a Wardrobe, a City and a Garden.

The exhibition ends with a Reading Room where viewers can browse in Parkett’s recent volumes and all pages of the Inserts (page art projects). Also on view are artists’ sketches, letters and other material documenting the direct collaboration between Parkett and the artists.

This exhibition marks the 25th anniversary of Parkett and introduces to the Japanese art audience the full and remarkable scope of Parkett’s direct collaborations with 200 artists.

A complete catalogue raisonné is published on this occasion featuring full page color illustrations and detailed descriptions of all artworks.. Two essays and chapters on Parkett’s inserts, spines, covers, artists’ documents as well as a special index on all authors and 1400 Parkett texts from 25 years round up the comprehensive publication.

View exhibition pictures

Exhibition review Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo