IN FOCUS is pleased to present the first solo exhibition of designer and artist Takuto Ohta “The Crystallized Echo of Air Quotes,” from March 9 (Sun) to March 16 (Sun) at our creative studio “CONTRAST”.
In contemporary society, an invisible distance seems to exist between us and the world. From news and conspiracy theories to design, art, the clothes we wear, and even the water we drink—there is no definitive way to verify their essence. Amid an overwhelming flood of information, discerning truth has become increasingly difficult. Even the word “apple” raises questions—why is it called an “apple” and not something else? The deeper one delves, the more endless the labyrinth becomes.
The term “Air Quotes” appeared within this vague sense of nihilism, drawing attention to its deeper implications. This hand gesture, used to indicate quoted speech, is often employed with irony or sarcasm. In a world where diverse values intersect and the meanings of words continue to fragment, what happens when we place ” ” around every concept?
“Human,” “Society,” “Language,” “Emotions,” “War,” “Peace,” “Art,” “Design,” “Values”…
By placing quotation marks around these words, Ohta challenges how we perceive and define them.
This exhibition reinterprets the “language” inherent in both words and objects. Through photography, sculpture, and poetry, he presents a deeply personal response to the questions that arise in this process. Across three floors, distinct worlds unfold, offering a multilayered perspective within the space.
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Takuto Ohta
Born in France in 1993. Graduated from the Department of Craft and Industrial Design at Musashino Art University in 2017. Completed the Master’s Program in Design at Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School of Fine Arts in 2022. Interested in the communication between objects and humans, he converts discoveries of new perspectives from daily observations into his artworks. Ota values fluidity in processes and ways of thinking and embraces multidimensional thoughts without adhering to specific fields.
2024 DESIGNTIDE TOKYO “Imagining Satellites” Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall (Tokyo , Japan)
2024 “Not Quite..” Parcel (Tokyo, Japan)
2023 “Perspective of a Chair” Tokyo Midtown Yaesu (Tokyo, Japan)
2023 “Thinking Piece” DropCity (Milano, Italy)
2022 “GEIDAI ARTS in Marunouchi 2022” Marunouchi Building (Tokyo, Japan)
2022 “Comité colbert award 2022 -The beauty of imperfection-” The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo, Japan)
2021 “ADF Milano Salone Design Award 2021” Fuori Salone (Milano, Italy)
https://www.instagram.com/ohtatakuto/
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Reception Party : 3/8(Sat) 18:00 – 21:00
Duration : 3/9(Sun) – 16(Sun)
Time : 13:00 – 20:00
Closed : Wednesday
Venue : CONTRAST
Entrance : Free
Address : 1-49-4 Tomigaya Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0063
Access : Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line “Yoyogi Park” Exit 1, 1 min walk
Odakyu Odawara Line “Yoyogi Hachiman” Exit South, 2 min walk
HP : https://contrast-tokyo.com/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/contrast_tokyo/
X : https://x.com/contrast_tokyo
E-mail : info@contrast-tokyo.com
Graphic Design : Ryunosuke Kikumura