Sterling Ruby: Specters Kyoto
Taka Ishii Gallery Kyoto is pleased to present 鈥淪PECTERS KYOTO,鈥� a solo exhibition by Sterling Ruby running from November 25th, 2023 to January 20th, 2024. This exhibition is in conjunction with two other solo shows running concurrently at Taka Ishii Gallery (TERRADA ART COMPLEX II) and at the Sogetsu Plaza in Tokyo, all featuring new work by the artist.
In this new exhibition, Sterling Ruby builds on themes explored during his participation in Desert X in 2019, stepping into the world of folk magic and the supernatural. The artist draws influences from both Japanese and Euro-American myth and legend as well as from the artist鈥檚 own early interactions with colonial folklore. Raised a few miles from an infamous local spot known as 鈥淗ex鈥� Hollow, the history of Ruby鈥檚 hometown in Pennsylvania was steeped in notions of witchcraft, hauntings and local legends. After a trip to East Asia in September 2014, Ruby also became interested in the ghostly tales deep-rooted in Japanese-Buddhist tradition, particularly kaidan, a genre of Japanese ghost stories, which evoked a greater curiosity in the artist in what comes after death.
Taking advantage of the earthen aesthetic and unique architectural features of the traditional wooden residence that now houses the Kyoto gallery, the artist presents works that 鈥渉aunt鈥� the space. Ruby makes use of found organic materials that hold deep symbolism within Japanese and Euro-American horror tales, from hair and wood, to animal bones and dried gourds. Inspired by the kaidan stories of Greek-Japanese writer Lafcadio Hearn, his sculptural and collaged works make direct reference to the Japanese y艒kai spirits rokurokubi, the spirit whose neck stretches like a water well鈥檚 pulley, and tsuzura no bakemono, literally the 鈥渄emon in the wicker hamper.鈥� From his own American viewpoint, Ruby also explores common horror tropes like the 鈥済host bride.鈥� The exhibition further features the artist鈥檚 works on paper that evoke undertones of the otherworldly, with their delicate yet ghostly pen markings forming skeletal objects and body parts.
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Taka Ishii Gallery Kyoto is pleased to present 鈥淪PECTERS KYOTO,鈥� a solo exhibition by Sterling Ruby running from November 25th, 2023 to January 20th, 2024. This exhibition is in conjunction with two other solo shows running concurrently at Taka Ishii Gallery (TERRADA ART COMPLEX II) and at the Sogetsu Plaza in Tokyo, all featuring new work by the artist.
In this new exhibition, Sterling Ruby builds on themes explored during his participation in Desert X in 2019, stepping into the world of folk magic and the supernatural. The artist draws influences from both Japanese and Euro-American myth and legend as well as from the artist鈥檚 own early interactions with colonial folklore. Raised a few miles from an infamous local spot known as 鈥淗ex鈥� Hollow, the history of Ruby鈥檚 hometown in Pennsylvania was steeped in notions of witchcraft, hauntings and local legends. After a trip to East Asia in September 2014, Ruby also became interested in the ghostly tales deep-rooted in Japanese-Buddhist tradition, particularly kaidan, a genre of Japanese ghost stories, which evoked a greater curiosity in the artist in what comes after death.
Taking advantage of the earthen aesthetic and unique architectural features of the traditional wooden residence that now houses the Kyoto gallery, the artist presents works that 鈥渉aunt鈥� the space. Ruby makes use of found organic materials that hold deep symbolism within Japanese and Euro-American horror tales, from hair and wood, to animal bones and dried gourds. Inspired by the kaidan stories of Greek-Japanese writer Lafcadio Hearn, his sculptural and collaged works make direct reference to the Japanese y艒kai spirits rokurokubi, the spirit whose neck stretches like a water well鈥檚 pulley, and tsuzura no bakemono, literally the 鈥渄emon in the wicker hamper.鈥� From his own American viewpoint, Ruby also explores common horror tropes like the 鈥済host bride.鈥� The exhibition further features the artist鈥檚 works on paper that evoke undertones of the otherworldly, with their delicate yet ghostly pen markings forming skeletal objects and body parts.
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