TARO NASU is pleased to announce Ryan Gander’s solo exhibition, entitled “Killing Time”.
Ryan Gander
Born in Chester, UK in 1976. Lives and works in London, Suffolk.
Gander has participated in numerous international exhibitions, such as ‘Ouverture’ (Bourse de Commerce, Paris) in 2021, documenta 13, the 9th Shanghai Biennale in 2012, and the 54th Vienna Biennale in 2011.
His recent selected exhibitions include the, ‘Paradise: Do we want a better world’ Kortrijk Triennial (Kortrijk) in 2021, ‘One artist / two films / one week’ (Center Pompidou, Paris) in 2019, ‘Sydney Biennale’ (Sydney) in 2018, ‘These wings aren’t for flying’ (National Museum Art of Osaka) in 2017, ‘Okayama Art Summit 2016: Development’ (Okayama) in 2016. Moreover, ‘THE MARKERS OF OUR TIME’ (Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery) will be held from July 16, 2022.
When I was younger and I would face a difficult situation, my father would tell me to “Let the world take a turn”. Later in life I realised what he meant was that I should Pause. Not make a decision, but to wait 24 hours – a revolution of the planet – to change perspective and to allow empathy. He would also often tell me that “Time is your greatest asset”. By this, I think he meant that I should make the most of time, value it, not waste it; to take Action and use the agency I have. Agency that we all seem to continually protest for, but mostly squander. These two sayings of course to some degree contradict one another. Like two sides of a coin.
When I think of a definition for value, I often used to think about money… The accelerated capitalist reality that we all live in is inescapable; but when we think about the question rationally, time and attention are of course of much greater value. Money did not exist before our own agency, and the vast catalytic stretch of our lifetime. I have known many people in my life who have found additional illogical values in a coin. A screwdriver, a memento of sentimental value, a reminder, a lucky yet superstitious keepsake, a rare collectors item, a decision making device to be flicked between heads and tails… or between Action and Pause.
I’m trying to teach myself to embrace my uncertainty, and to hug the life out of it like the time we have all been afforded.
Text Ryan Gander
Related Exhibition ‘THE MARKERS OF OUR TIME’
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
Saturday, July 16 – Monday, September 19 (Closed: Mondays except National Holidays)
11:00-19:00 (Last admission: 18:30) Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if the Monday public holiday), Sunday, 7 August.