»Lion & Canvas« episode 1

2008, Video installation, canvases, 91 x 72 cm, 72 x 60 cm, 65 x 53 cm, HD video, 21:10min.

The canvas is an iconic symbol of "art". Yamashita and Kobayashi placed several canvases before a group of lions to whom the concept of art is unknown. At first the lions were afraid of the canvases, then confused, and finally, gradually, began to play with them. Should we consider the damaged canvases created by the lions as works of art? This piece was inspired by the work of Lucio Fontana.
美術の象徴的存在とも言えるキャンバスと、それを知る由もないライオンが対峙する。
彼らははじめ怖れ、戸惑い、そして徐々に遊び始める。 そこに生まれた残骸は果たして作品と呼ぶべきなのだろうか。 フォンタナの作品から着想を得たプロジェクト。