project room: Yonetani Ken

Countries continues to release details of their plans for 53. Venice Biennale. Australia in addition to main pavilon will show a group exhibition featuring the themes of displacement, indigenous and environmental issues. Among the artists is Australia-based Japanese artist Yonetani Ken.

The image comes from the artist homepage and was taken during the exhibition 'fumie-tiles' in 2003. Over 2 thousand fragile tiles fired at low temperature to ensure fragility and featuring Australian endangered butterflies covered gallery floor at CSIRO Discovery in Cranberra and were broken by the attendants already at the opening reception. The artist wanted to make the audience feel and think about fragile environment through their own action, that is by stepping and smashing his artwork.