Since 2020, an invisible virus has stolen away our everyday, and wrought havoc on our way of life and state of mind. Under these circumstances much artistic expression, including contemporary art, resonates more keenly than ever. Listen to the Sound of the Earth Turning explores ways to live this new life as the pandemic persists, and the nature of “wellbeing” that is the holistic health of both body and mind, from multiple perspectives found in contemporary art. Works on subjects with a connection to life and existence - nature and humans, the individual and society, family, the repetitious nature of daily living, the spiritual world, life and death - will encourage us to consider what it means to “live well.”
Emphasizing the type of experience only accessible in the real-life space of the museum, this exhibition will showcase approximately 140 works by sixteen artists from both home and abroad - including installations, sculptures, video, photography, paintings and more. Honing the senses and engaging with art by experiencing first-hand the materials and scale of works will prompt viewers to consider what “wellbeing” means for themselves, rather than what is suggested by others or wider society.
The title of the exhibition is a quote from a piece of instruction art (*) by Yoko Ono, and invites us to expand our consciousness to encompass all the majesty of the cosmos, reminding us that we are no more than a tiny part of its workings, and guiding us toward new ways of thinking. As we address questions of human life in the world at an essential level now that the pandemic has struck us, perhaps it is this very imagination that will present to us possibilities for the future.
* A form of conceptual art where the artist’s “instruction” or its description is the work itself.
Click here to see installation view
Courtesy: Kenji Taki Gallery, Nagoya/Tokyo
Photo: Ito Tetsuo
* Referential image
Courtesy: Kenji Taki Gallery, Nagoya/Tokyo
Photo: Ito Tetsuo
* Referential image
Listen to the Sound of the Earth Turning: Our Wellbeing since the Pandemic
| Organizer | Mori Art Museum |
|---|---|
| Grant from | Wellcome Trust |
| Corporate Sponsors | OBAYASHI CORPORATION KAJIMA CORPORATION KINDEN CORPORATION TAKENAKA CORPORATION Toyota Motor Corporation Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd. Next Meats Co., Ltd. NTT Communications Corporation   |
| Curated by | Kataoka Mami (Director, Mori Art Museum), Kumakura Haruko (Assistant Curator), Tokuyama Hirokazu (Associate Curator, Mori Art Museum) |
Notice Regarding Photography and Filming in the Galleries
In the Galleries, you may photograph/film some of the artworks/areas under the conditions provided below. Please read this notice carefully.
Photography/filming of works with 
pictograms is strictly prohibited. Details: here
Photography/filming of works with pictograms is strictly prohibited. Details: here
When taking photographs/filming (if allowed):
Do NOT touch the artworks.
Be careful NOT interfere with other visitors’ enjoyment of the museum.
Do NOT use flash lighting.
Do NOT use tripods and selfie sticks.- * Be sure NOT film the works on video in their entirety upon filming.
When using photographs/videos taken of the exhibitions:
- Photographs/videos may be used for non-commercial purposes, only. Photographs/videos may NOT be used for commercial purposes.
- Photographs/videos may NOT be altered in any ways.
- The conditions above are set forth under the Creative Commons License. When uploading photographs/videos for blogs or any other photosharing services, please make sure to display the below marks and phrases with the photographs/videos.
Example:
Artist’s name and work title: Tsai Charwei The Womb & The Diamond
This photograph/video is licensed under “Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works 4.0 International.”
* For details about the Creative Commons License and displaying of photographic materials under the License, refer to the Creative Commons Japan website: https://creativecommons.jp
* Beware that they may infringe on that person’s right of portrait if photographs/videos that include other museum visitors are made public.
