Various documentary approaches of Tadashi Kawamata‘s works together with unreleased films produced by the artist (A 5 hours program, 2 DVD).

DVD 1

01 – Work in progress (2005 / 52 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

A retrospective of the work of Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata told by himself, as he strolls through the cities of Tokyo, New York and Paris. From his first paintings in his studio in Japan to his monumental installations, his story is interspersed with filmed sequences that show the diversity of the spaces he occupies (private, public, industrial, historical, religious, etc.) as well as the particularity of the contexts in which it operates. This film demonstrates an artistic approach that is both solitary and highly sociable.

02 – Transfert, Saché-Tours (1994 / 30 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

This film presents the artist Tadashi Kawamata in residence at the Atelier Calder during the exhibition organized by the Centre de Création Contemporaine in Tours. The artist creates an exchange between the place of residence and the exhibition space. He questions the public and private domains by connecting the two places for the duration of an exhibition.

03 – Le passage des chaises, Paris (1997 / 14’30)

A film by Gilles Coudert

This film presents Tadashi Kawamata‘s installation at the Saint-Louis chapel of the Salpêtrière hospital in Paris as part of the Festival d’Automne. The Japanese artist creates an ephemeral work in the form of a passage, made from church chairs and pews.

04 – Les chaises de traverse, Metz-Delme (1998 / 26 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

This film presents the installation of Tadashi Kawamata at the Hôtel Saint-Livier in Metz and at the Synagogue in Delme. The artist creates two assemblages of complementary chairs in two places marked by history and religion.

05 – Sur la voie, Evreux (2000 / 26 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

This film presents the installation of Tadashi Kawamata at the Hôtel Saint-Livier in Metz and at the Synagogue in Delme. The artist creates two assemblages of complementary chairs in two places marked by history and religion.

06 – Relocation, Londres (1997 / 5 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

On the occasion of the restoration of the Serpentine Gallery, Tadashi Kawamata recycles old materials in a new building next to the old one. On the other hand, he reuses windows and doors in an installation at the Annely Juda Fine Art Gallery in London.

07 – Work in progress, Zug and Zuoz (1997 / 6 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

Document on the projects in Zug and Zuoz in Switzerland. Tadashi Kawamata carried out in the small town of Zug, for several successive years, installations in public spaces. In Zuoz, he built a bridge between the hotel, which sponsored the project, and the old swimming pool, which he transformed into an esplanade and sauna.

08 – Barquitos, Valencia (2003 / 26 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

This film presents Tadashi Kawamata‘s installation as part of the Micro-Utopias exhibition at the second Biennial of Contemporary Art in Valencia, Spain. The artist sets up an arrangement of freshwater barges and out-of-use sea boats in front of a former shipyard, where the exhibition is held.

09 – Bridge & Archives, Moyland (2003 / 26 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

This film presents Tadashi Kawamata‘s installation at the Museum Schloss Moyland in Germany. The Japanese artist creates a bridge between the Joseph Beuys archives building, kept in this museum, and the exhibition space where he presents his documents, models and photographs of previous projects.

10 – Détours, des tours, Thiers-Montélimar (2005 / 26 min.)

A film by Gilles Coudert

This film presents Tadashi Kawamata‘s installations at the contemporary art centers of Creux de l’Enfer in Thiers and the Château des Adhémar in Montélimar. The artist is interested in the history of these sites, the factory and the medieval castle, and depicts the flows and circulations in and around these buildings in an active archaeological approach bringing together past, present and future.

DVD 2

01 – Measure (1977-1979 / 65 min.)

A film by Tadashi Kawamata

Early work by Tadashi Kawamata at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. These works show the artist’s reflections on the relationship of the body to space and play with light, perspective or perception. travaux de Tadashi Kawamata à la Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.