Your eyes catch the glimmer of a blue jewel, calling you over like a moth to a flame. It’s beautiful, you think, and exquisitely crafted. You want to hold it, to feel the smooth ring on your finger and the chain embracing your neck. But tread lightly, my friend, and watch where you step, for perilous jaws lurk beneath tempting jewels, ready to snap shut. Do not stray too close to the sun, for your waxen wings may melt, and you may soon fall victim to the jewellery Trap.
For MJW 2020, four Japanese artists – Takashi Kojima, Masayuki Nagata, Fumiki Taguchi and Takayoshi Terajima – present the third installation of Trap, an exhibition of equal parts attraction and treacherousness.
CURRENT OBSESSION:
Could you tell me more about the title and why you chose it?
TRAP
The title is a ‘trap’. We believe that jewellery attracts humans, so we’d like to show our works in order to gather people. We catch or ‘trap’ those who are attracted to our work.
CO
What are the intentions of the exhibition in terms of the span of the work you will be showing?
TRAP
The purpose of the exhibition is to present jewellery that you want to pick up. So it is a dark temptation for visitors. Through this experience we want you to enjoy the duality of the tension and the desire to touch.
CO
Could you talk about how the work is going to be presented and why?
TRAP
The work is set into a trap placed on the ground, quietly waiting for a visitor. The exhibition will be held in a wonderful space called ‘Atelier Rosa’, and will be lit by sunlight only – as if in nature. It is a quiet space that is perfect for confrontational works. This space will be used for jewellery displays for the first time.
CO
What are the intentions of the exhibition in terms of the selection of artists and what brought this group together?
TRAP
We have roots in Japan. As a collective, our aim is to pursue a high degree of perfection. Our group especially values techniques and materials, this is central to craft-thinking. We also focus on the conceptual strength of the work.
CO
Why do you think it’s important to show your work during MJW?
TRAP
We consider MJW to be the centre of the jewellery world. When we were working in Japan, the exhibition in Munich was our dream and triggered our work overseas. Our activities spread from Munich. We think it is the first step as an artist.
This article was published in the online edition of Munich Jewellery Week 2020
TRAP
Takashi Kojima, Masayuki Nagata, Fumiki Taguchi & Takayoshi Terajima
Atelier Rosa
Osterwaldstraße 89, Munich, Germany
12.03 – 15.03 Fri-Sun 11:00-17:00
