Leading French conceptual artist Laurent Grasso is currently holding his first major solo exhibition in Japan, “Soleil Noir,” at the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, Tokyo.Known for a rigorous practice that often tackles questions related to epistemology and one’s perception of time, Grasso bases his works on exhaustive research into historical or scientific documents, often veering into treatments of mysticism, legend, and supernatural phenomena. Using a variety of media ranging from painting to video, Grasso explores how a human sense of temporality and visual retention is inextricably tied to personal consciousness.For this exhibition, Grasso presents a series of new works that attempt to portray cosmic energy within a specifically Japanese context. His “black sun” motif features repeatedly as an entity that seems to neutralize the passage of time, while his research into vernacular Japanese mythology is inspired by ancient dogu clay figures, Noh masks, and folding screens covered in gold leaf. These Japanese motifs are also combined with analogous expressions drawn from medieval European cultures.By inserting wooden panels into the gallery space, Grasso’s work encourages viewers to reflect on the architecture that houses it, while also prompting a cross-cultural dialogue on historical exchanges between disparate cultures.A 2015 recipient of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture and a 2008 winner of the prestigious Marcel Duchamp prize, Grasso has upcoming exhibitions planned at MASS MoCA, USA and Pompidou-Metz, France. His work can be found in collections around the world, including the Centre Pompidou, Paris, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo and Leeum, Samsung Museum, Seoul.Laurent Grasso's "Soleil Noir" runs through January 31, 2016 at Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, Tokyo.Follow @ARTINFOJapan
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