Vik Muniz

November 4, 2010

Vik Muniz

Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2010 Is it a photograph? Is it a painting? Actually, it’s both. New York-based Brazilian artist Vik Muniz has used everything from Rio de Janeiro landfill to peanut butter in his reproductions of famous paintings. For new Tokyo show “Pictures of Paper,” part of his “Pictures of Pigment” series, […]

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on November 2010

(C)Vik Muniz

Is it a photograph? Is it a painting? Actually, it’s both. New York-based Brazilian artist Vik Muniz has used everything from Rio de Janeiro landfill to peanut butter in his reproductions of famous paintings. For new Tokyo show “Pictures of Paper,” part of his “Pictures of Pigment” series, Muniz turned to ukiyo-e woodblock artists like Hiroshige and Hokusai for inspiration. By scanning their works, cutting up the reproductions, layering the pieces together and then photographing them, he hopes to offer a new way of appreciating masterpieces whose power has been diminished by over-familiarity.

Nichido Contemporary Art
Vik Muniz. Pictures of Paper. Painting, print. Until Nov 20, free. 4-3-3 Hachobori, Chuo-ku. Tel: 03-3555-2140. Open Tue-Sat 11am-7pm, closed Sun-Mon. Nearest stn: Hatchobori. www.nca-g.com