{"id":25122,"date":"2025-08-26T21:12:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T21:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/25122\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T21:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T21:12:09","slug":"yuji-agematsu-arranges-street-debris-into-tiny-daily-sculptures-colossal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/25122\/","title":{"rendered":"Yuji Agematsu Arranges Street Debris into Tiny Daily Sculptures \u2014 Colossal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each day, Yuji Agematsu<\/a> takes a walk for the explicit purpose of scouring the streets. The dried leaf, lost toy, and even the wad of gum discarded on a park bench are his treasures, which he retrieves and places in the clear cellophane that wraps a pack of cigarettes. Although Agematsu no longer smokes, this habit of wandering and collecting has been harder to break: he\u2019s been committed to it since 1996.<\/p>\n

Once tucked inside the thin envelope, the artist\u2019s findings become an homage to the beauty of the mundane. He arranges trash and other findings almost like ikebana, using a glass shard or cracked stick to find balance and harmony. Objects others would barely notice are materials that represent the human condition and contemporary concerns. In Agematsu\u2019s eyes, they reveal a whole host of insights about our individual and collective lives.<\/p>\n

\"leaves,\u201cZip: 11.22.24\u201d (detail), mixed media in cigarette pack cellophane wrapper, approximately 2 1\/4 x 2 1\/8 x 3\/4 inches. Photo by Reggie Shiobara, \u00a9 Yuji Agematsu<\/p>\n

Judd Foundation<\/a> presents two years\u2019 worth of Agematsu\u2019s sculptures in the aptly titled 2023\u20132024, an exhibition presented at 101 Spring Street in SoHo and Gavin Brown<\/a>\u2019s home on Lenox Avenue in Harlem. The Spring Street space is the former home and workspace of Donald Judd<\/a>, a building Agematsu managed for two decades.<\/p>\n

Presented chronologically, each piece is cleverly positioned on a white, aluminum shelf to resemble a monthly calendar. Given the artist\u2019s decades-long dedication, the ongoing project has offered several revelations. As Agematsu told The New York Times<\/a> earlier this year:<\/p>\n

\n

Found objects have more power. We can see so many varieties of how to change the shape and color. Weather makes change. Also human ego. Because of the chewing gum, I notice that laughing chewing gum, angry chewing gum, are all different. We make a different shape from a different mood.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While the \u201czips,\u201d as the artist refers to them, are small\u2014about 3.5 x 2.5 x 2 inches\u2014they have the ability to capture conditions so much bigger than any one person. For example, a rainy spring day might leave a layer of mud and condensation pooling at the bottom of the plastic, while wrappers for particular kinds of candy might indicate the cultural makeup of a neighborhood. <\/p>\n

\"leaves,\u201cZip: 3.14.24\u201d (detail), mixed media in cigarette pack cellophane wrapper, approximately 2 1\/4 x 2 1\/8 x 3\/4 inches. Photo by Reggie Shiobara, \u00a9 Yuji Agematsu<\/p>\n

In this way, the pieces are also a visual diary of what humans control and don\u2019t, and how the innumerable forces impacting our lives appear in even the tiniest remnants.<\/p>\n

2023-2024 is on view through August 30.<\/p>\n

\"leaves,\u201cZip: 10.25.24\u201d (detail), mixed media in cigarette pack cellophane wrapper, approximately 2 1\/4 x 2 1\/8 x 3\/4 inches. Photo by Reggie Shiobara, \u00a9 Yuji Agematsu<\/p>\n

\"wire,\u201cZip: 11.10.24\u201d (detail), mixed media in cigarette pack cellophane wrapper, approximately 2 1\/4 x 2 1\/8 x 3\/4 inches. Photo by Reggie Shiobara, \u00a9 Yuji Agematsu<\/p>\n

\"a\u201cZip: 4.19.24\u201d (detail), mixed media in cigarette pack cellophane wrapper, approximately 2 1\/4 x 2 1\/8 x 3\/4 inches. Photo by Reggie Shiobara, \u00a9 Yuji Agematsu<\/p>\n

\"a\u201cZip: 4.3.24\u201d (detail), mixed media in cigarette pack cellophane wrapper, approximately 2 1\/4 x 2 1\/8 x 3\/4 inches. Photo by Reggie Shiobara, \u00a9 Yuji Agematsu<\/p>\n

\"leaves, \u201cZip: 12.7.24\u201d (detail), mixed media in cigarette pack cellophane wrapper, approximately 2 1\/4 x 2 1\/8 x 3\/4 inches. Photo by Reggie Shiobara, \u00a9 Yuji Agematsu<\/p>\n

\"aInstallation view of \u2018Yuji Agematsu: 2023-2024\u2019 (May 10 to August 30, 2025), 101 Spring Street,
Judd Foundation, New York. Photo by Timothy Doyon, \u00a9 Judd Foundation. Art \u00a9 Yuji
Agematsu<\/p>\n

\"wire,\u201cZip: 11.16.24\u201d (detail), mixed media in cigarette pack cellophane wrapper, approximately 2 1\/4 x 2 1\/8 x 3\/4 inches. Photo by Reggie Shiobara, \u00a9 Yuji Agematsu<\/p>\n

\"aInstallation view of \u2018Yuji Agematsu: 2023-2024\u2019 (May 10 to August 30, 2025), 101 Spring Street,
Judd Foundation, New York. Photo by Timothy Doyon, \u00a9 Judd Foundation. Art \u00a9 Yuji
Agematsu<\/p>\n

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