Regional Review (China): Tsutsui's Review "12th Hiroshima Art Prize Commemorative Exhibition: Mel Chin" (Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art) / KIT Miyauchi 02 Hoshito Shinato "Syntodo Immortal Center: I'm Afraid of Dying! Art Research Institute" (Gallery Miyauchi)
Reviews of the 12th Hiroshima Art Prize commemorative Mel Chin exhibition and a solo show by young Hiroshima artist Hoshito Shinato.Summary
This article reviews two exhibitions in Hiroshima. The first is the 12th Hiroshima Art Prize commemorative exhibition for American artist Mel Chin at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition is divided into two chapters exploring democracy, military violence, and the role of institutions. Chin is recognized for his social-political art and projects like "Revival Field," which uses plants to purify contaminated soil. He advocates for museums to become "laboratories" for social change rather than mere tombs of artifacts. The second exhibition features young Hiroshima artist Hoshito Shinato (born 1999) at Gallery Miyauchi. His works, including animated dancing skeletons and video pieces about becoming a ghost, approach themes of death and immortality with an unexpected vitality and affirmation of life, contrasting with the exhibition's ominous title "I'm Afraid of Dying!" Both exhibitions collectively pose questions about the future role of museums as institutions.
(Source：美術手帖)