Tomo Tanaka
I visited Tomo Tanaka’s solo exhibition being held at “POLA MUSEUM ANNEX” in Ginza.
Inside the venue, the shutter sounds of smartphone cameras rang out here and there, and many women had come hoping to get photos for Instagram — I could feel Tomo Tanaka’s popularity firsthand.
“Closer ~Face to Face~”
Because it’s a world of miniatures, the display was quite different from an ordinary gallery. Basically, you view the works housed in showcases, much like the luxury watch or accessory counters of a department store.
You examine the works in the showcases with the naked eye, or with a loupe lent out at the venue.
There are many works related to sweets and food, and the lineup is clearly aimed at a female audience and conscious of being Instagram-worthy.
They really are tiny, and at first you’re struck with wonder at that world, but gradually you become aware of the process behind the scenes, and rather than amazement, you find yourself using your imagination on just how laborious the work must be.
Photography is allowed inside the venue. To let you compare sizes, there’s even a spot where you can hold your finger up against an acrylic panel.
The osechi, in particular, has a packaging quality that’s astonishing.
I zoomed in. You can see that each piece is made just as a chef would.
Production Steps
There was a corner in the venue displaying the production process. You can see that it really is an accumulation of fine, detailed work.
How to Make Edomae Sushi
Burari Tochu Gesha no Tabi
It was also featured on the May 26, 2018 broadcast of “Burari Tochu Gesha no Tabi,” a program on the Nippon TV network.
Natsuko Kojima marveled at the world of tiny miniatures, and the artist himself appeared to explain his work.
Being featured on TV just before the exhibition ended surely means it will get incredibly crowded!
According to what was introduced on the program, Tomo Tanaka apparently used to work as a truck driver. From a wild world to a delicate one… interesting, isn’t it?
Summary
You’d think it was feminine delicacy, but Tomo Tanaka is actually a male artist. Works born from the repetition of meticulous work so characteristic of the Japanese struck me as a category that deserves to be recognized worldwide. I look forward to his wide-ranging work in the years to come.
It was a wonderful exhibition. Bravo!
