With the tools for reproducing images, text and sound now at the tips of all our grubby fingers, Aikawa Masaru has been keeping busy copying popular albums with meticulously hand-painted and drawn cover art and liner notes, along with burnt CDs with all the tracks duplicated using nothing but his own vocals.
The works of obsessively laborious affection are on show in Tokyo at Mori Gallery’s triennial exhibition of new Japanese art, Roppongi Crossing. Set up to resemble a CD shop, his listening booth comprises dozens of hand-made original fakes of albums by the likes of Kraftwerk, The Ramones, Primal Scream and Patti Smith (there’s even a hilarious a cappella rendering of Beethoven’s Symphony 9) as well as the artist’s helpful ‘tips’ printed on the wall:
- I can not play any instruments.
- There are many copy bands, but I am the best.
- I love music more than pictures and sculptures.
- I like hearing legends about the musicians.
- When I am creating my work, I can be the musicians whom I respect and love.
- I sometimes think that I am cool when I sing song ardently.
- To choose CDs from my favorites, was difficult but fun.
- I think the jackets of Heavy Metal CDs are cool.
- I like “Megadeth” more than “Metallica”.
- The good jacket has good songs on the CD.
- I hate “Greatest Hits”.
- I never buy songs from the “iTunes Music Store”.
- A lot of illegally copied CDs are sold on the streets of Asia .
- I am a Japanese, and a Japanese are good at mimicry.
- I think “iPods” are useful.
- I love the works of Andy Warhol.
- I sympathize with “D.I.Y” mind of the punk / hard core.
- It is possible to listen to my song only in the exhibition.
- The works of CDs are duplications, but nevertheless are myself, and also my original work of art.
Haha good tips!
Comment by Elf — June 27, 2010 @ 12:41 am