AKI INOMATA (born 1983 in Tokyo, lives and works in Tokyo) understands her works as a bridge of becoming-with of humans and other living beings. In order to achieve this, she frequently collaborates with various non-human organisms.
In her series Why Not Hand Over a ‘Shelter’ to Hermit Crabs?, which she started in 2009, she offers hermit crabs 3D-printed shells, on top of which she adds buildings from various cities around the world. The shells offer the hermit crabs protection from predators. However, due to expulsion by other crabs or because of their growth, they have to repeatedly find new shells to call home throughout their lives. Inomata’s work not only reminds us of the connection and becoming-with of humans, animals, and technology, but also raises questions about the meaning of home and nationality, as well as the consequences of displacement and flight.
After exhibitions at MoMA in New York, the Musée d’arts de Nantes, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Inomata’s works are now being presented for the first time in a museum in Germany. For the solo show AKI INOMATA. Becoming -with the artist will use one of the museum’s collection spaces to bring together various series of works from recent years.
