yudangami, Tabaimo, video installation 2009. Photo: Ufer! Art Documentary

Dates: 26 May 2010 – 6 August 2010 | Location: Parasol unit, 14 Wharf Road, London N1 7RW

Tabaimo’s first UK solo show has just opened at London’s Parasol unit. Boundary Layer features five of her video installations from the past decade, including her graduation work Japanese Kitchen (1999) that established her reputation. Tabaimo is known for her skilfully drawn and disturbing animations that mix imagery from contemporary Japanese life with digital video techniques. Her satirical works often comment on modern life in Japan, and in particular on the way her own generation attempts to reconcile the realities of today with traditional Japanese values. Recommended.

Tabaimo: Boundary Layer at Parasol Unit

Dates: 26 May – 6 August | Location: Parasol unit, London

Parasol unit presents the first solo exhibition in London devoted to the work of the Japanese artist Tabaimo. Since her graduation from art school in 1999, Tabaimo’s innovative and large-scale animated drawings have been extensively shown to major critical acclaim, both in Japan and internationally. Tabaimo is known for her skilfully drawn and disturbing animations that mix imagery from c0ntemporary Japanese life with digital video technique. The exhibition at Parasol unit will be comprised of five video installations: Japanese Kitchen, 1999; hanabi-ra, 2003; guigunorama, 2006; public conVENience, 2006; and yudangami, 2009.

There is a private view on 25 May, 6.30-9 pm. Admission is Free. For more information, visit www.parasol-unit.org.

Elja-Liisa Ahtila - Where is Where?

Dates: 26 Feb–25 Apr | Location: Parasol unit, London

Parasol unit is delighted to present a major solo exhibition by the renowned Finnish film and video artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila. It will include three important moving image installations never before seen in England.

There will be a symposium  ‘Considering the work of Eija-Liisa Ahtila’,  at Parasol unit on Saturday 13th March, between 2- 5pm, with speakers Isaac Julien (British Artist & filmmaker), Taru Elfving (Associate Tutor at Department of Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths University & expert on Ahtila’s work), Maeve Connolly (author of ‘The Place of Artists Cinema: Space, Site & Screen’, and  Lecturer at School of Creative Arts, Design & Technology, Dublin) and Steven Bode (Director of Film & Video Umbrella, UK).

There will also be an exhibition tour of Eija-Liisa’s work by filmmaker Stuart Croft, focusing on Ahtila’s use of narrative, on Thursday March 4th at 7pm.

Finally, on Wednesday 14 April at 7pm there will be a special screening of Ahtila’s film, Where is Where? previously seen at the Centre Pompidou and the Sundance Film Festival.  Marking its UK premiere the film will be screened at the Prince Charles Cinema.

For more information, visit the Parasol Unit website.