TOKORODE: VisionsArt Gallery Tokyo 2008 

 TOKORODE

"posing a hypothetical situation, implying that even if something were to happen, an undesirable situation would still exist in reality" (from Dictionary of Japanese Particles)

Stella Whalleys work entwines an art practice and a poetic sensibility which centres around concept of the gaze. In TOKORODE Whalleys underlying preoccupation is located somewhere liminal, touching upon a world of androgyny and fantasy found in the all-female theatre of Takarazuka, in the popular masquerade of 'cosplay' and 'crossplay', and in the staging of erotic humiliation. The actual subject matter and aesthetical preoccupations presented in TOKORODE is based on Whalleys book "Tokyo Tales" which was launched at the Whitechapel Gallery in London last year. The book itself was a result from her residency in Tokyo in 2004 where she drew inspiration from Japanese narrative and art techniques found in emakimono, ukiyoe, manga and the contemporary art tendency labeled superflat. In TOKORODE Whalley is loosening up the format of the book and literally spreads it all out on a 21 meter long scroll which runs along the gallery walls. With compositions, line drawings and cuts outs from her book, Whalley dives into a horizontal space where she distils her views of the world into a floating perspective where moments from her own observations is captured with a lingering of a de ja vue resonance. Decorative floral patterns, sequins and silver paint travel across the scroll, larger than life characters interrupt the sequence of events, and tactile flocked images appear on black shiny surfaces. By blending obvious references to traditional Japanese art forms with her own vocabulary, merging reality and imagination, Whalley creates a new and beautiful space. The exhibition has been generously supported by the British Council, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, and DAIWA Foundation.