A Spirit of Gift, A Place of Sharing is a campus-wide exhibition featuring three artists—Yusuke Asai of Japan, Kimsooja of Korea, and Pinaree Sanpitak of Thailand—who explore links between 19th century Shaker art and contemporary Asian art. An immersive experience, A Spirit of Gift, A Place of Sharing connects the forms rooted in various Asian sensibilities and aesthetics as manifested in the contemporary visual language of these three artists, which share an intense concentration of minds, handcrafted intimacy, and unique use of space. Although worlds apart in origin and distance, these artists and the Shaker community are all dedicated to a place of sharing.
The exhibition invites the three Asian artists—each with a distinctive artistic practice—to ‘collaborate’ with the natural and architectural setting of this 19th century historic village, its extensive collection of Shaker material culture, and the team who diligently care for and activate the historic property, including the blacksmith, the gardener, and chefs. Carefully considering the key qualities of Shaker living, philosophy, and spiritualism, all the works will be site-specific or site-responsive, with at least one new commission from each artist. The show is guest-curated by Miwako Tezuka in collaboration with Linda Johnson, curator at Hancock Shaker Village.
This exhibition is made possible by the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation, with support from Alan Beller. Additional funding is provided by Noriko Kashiwagi.