Profiles
Ken Yonetani: Artist
Conflicting human desires to protect and to destroy are invoked by Yonetani. In 2004, audiences visiting his solo exhibition fumie-tiles faced a dilemma. To enter the show they had to walk across 1000 meticulously made, low fired tiles featuring relief images of 10 of Australia's endangered butterflies. The tiles were destroyed and Yonetani's video installation in Valency revisits the interactive fumie-tiles performance. The work references similar seventeenth century Japanese floor installations of fumie tiles, which were imprinted with images of Jesus and used to identify Christians. Yonetani uses the butterfly as a symbol of environmental fragility and for spiritual transformation. The show was a metaphor for environmental degradation, with the performers acting out the conflict of human desire. Perhaps it was also a test of ethical conviction. In Valency Yonetani also presents undamaged fumie specimens, providing labels that are an expression of scientific objectivity and classificatory practices.
Contact
- Ken Yonetani
- Email: yonekensworld@mac.com
- Web: http://homepage.mac.com/yonekensworld/
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