everyday(s)

two weeks ago i went to see the exhibition 'everyday(s)' at casino luxembourg. as is often the case, the descriptions in the pamphlet were often much more interesting than the works themselves but some pieces did stand out. just near the main entrance was a work called 'Kitchen, la cuisine transportable' by Christine Dupuis and Thorsten Baensch. it was a cute litle pop-up cafe that served snacks made by the artists in exchange for a recipe from the viewer. it's a fun compliment to the art gallery visit and it's interesting that they have 'shown' it around the world and so have compiled quite a lot of handwritten recipes in different languages.

(photo from animalvegetable on flickr)

a video by Cao Fei called 'COSPlayers' was surprisingly absorbing.
it was about cosplayers, people who dress up as manga and anime characters, running around the streets of china and having mock battles. they take on the identity of these characters in order to temporarily create a different life for themselves, but ultimately return to their regular, everyday lives with their families. the contrast between the detailed fantasy costumes and the grey, ordinary surroundings is at times funny and at other times depressing. 

the artist i was most impressed with at this show was Takahiro Iwasaki. his work took up a whole room and at first just looks like a bunch of towels, fabric and books lying around in heaps, but on closer inspection is something amazing:

he makes intricate little structures out of the threads of towels and book bindings, which must be incredibly fragile but resemble durable buildings and cranes. this work must create in everyone first a feeling of boredom, then surprise, then delight!