It's not too late to dive into the fascinating world of Akihito Okunaka and discover his exhibition "Synesthesia - Crossing the Senses with Art" at the What house of art in Shinagawa.
If you haven't already done so, you still have several months to enjoy this unique immersive experience, where art blends with the deepest sensory perceptions. Don't miss it before it closes on March 16, 2025. This kind of project, which fuses art and emotion, also finds an echo in prestigious spaces such as Galerie Joseph in Paris, always on the lookout for new ways to engage the senses with contemporary art.
A Sensory Journey through the Works of Akihito Okunaka
Japanese artist Akihito Okunaka, known for his large-scale sculptures, invites the public to experience a true glare of art, a work that questions the relationship between nature, society and human perceptions. His inflatable sculptures with their fluid forms, reminiscent of balloons or air cushions, subvert the traditional experience of art by enabling physical and emotional interaction. Designed specifically for this event, the exhibition's highlight is a monumental 12-meter-diameter installation, an immersive exhibition space where air, water and light play with the senses and invite unparalleled exploration.
Visitors are invited to enter the work, to touch and lie down on a large water pillow placed at the heart of the structure. By interacting with the installation, everyone can feel a sense of connection with other visitors, an experience that transcends physical sensations to bring out a collective emotion, as subtle as it is real. Variations in color and form in response to spectators' movements create a sensory dialogue, enabling everyone to discover elements invisible to the naked eye: air, water, light and relationships with others.
Synesthesia: An Experiential Phenomenon
The title of theexhibition, Synesthesia, refers to this neurological condition where the stimulation of one sense awakens another. For example, words can be perceived as having a color, or sounds can be associated with flavors. Akihito Okunaka draws on this phenomenon to fuse these perceptions in his creations, enabling a multisensory experience that blends art, philosophy and science. Through his works, he seeks to make us experience this unexpected encounter of senses, a little as if we could taste a word or see a melody.
The exhibition is part of a broader reflection, influenced by the work of French philosopher Bruno Latour, who explored the relationship between nature, technology and society. Okunaka, trained in sociology and art, transforms philosophical concepts into tangible elements, sculptures that embody this fluid, interconnected relationship between man, his environment and objects. Inside the exhibition, books, sketches and an exclusive video interview enable visitors to discover the intention and creative process behind each work.
A Collective Sensory Experience
But beyond the intellectual aspect, it's the sensory experience itself that takes center stage. The giant balloon is not just a sculpture to be admired: it is a space for interaction. Visitors can move around, within and beneath the work, creating a relationship with the art where movement and the presence of others directly influence perception of the work. The iridescent light that slowly changes as you move, the air that inflates and deflates the structure, and the water that reflects this light - all make up a work in constant transformation.
It's a living art form, both gentle and volatile, inviting reflection but also immersion. The fusion of natural elements in this giant installation, while organic in form, allows the public to touch what seems elusive: entities without form, moving and changing.
A Bridge between Art and Philosophy
Through the exhibition, Okunaka opens up a genuine dialogue with his viewers, encouraging them to go beyond traditional visual art to enjoy an experience that integrates touch, sight, hearing and even taste, thanks to the sensory evocation of his work. Through his creations, he questions the relationship between natural elements - air, water, light - and human relationships. The work becomes a metaphor for the fluidity of human relationships, the way individuals connect, perceive and interact in a world constantly in motion.
Okunaka's work is a reflection on the environment, society and the individual. His work, though deeply rooted in complex philosophical concepts, becomes a field of experimentation accessible to all, where each viewer can freely interpret the works according to his or her own perceptions and sensory experiences.
An Invitation to Explore the Galerie Joseph
This exhibition, in itself an intense sensory experience, echoes the innovative projects of Galerie Joseph, located in the heart of Paris. Indeed, just as Okunaka invites its viewers to discover ephemeral art, Galerie Joseph, thanks to its art gallery rental, positions itself as a space where fashion, art and innovation meet in a modular, flexible setting. These spaces are creative laboratories, places where pop-ups and other artistic events are constantly reinvented to offer visitors a unique, immersive experience. A fine example of this philosophy of living, experiential art, to be discovered beyond the traditional boundaries of the exhibition.
To find out more about art gallery and exhibition rentals: Galerie Joseph
So if you haven't already, there's still time to head to Tokyo for this immersive and enriching art experience. "Synesthesia - Crossing the Senses with Art" can be seen at the WHAT MUSEUM, from October 4, 2024 to March 16, 2025.
