YUKI KODAIRA | «The Dragon's Hair: Hello from the Botanical Garden»
27 Setembro 2025 16h00
YUKI KODAIRA
The Dragon's Hair: Hello from the Botanical Garden
The Dragon's Hair: Hello from the Botanical Garden
Open Studio | September 27-28, 2025, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Artist Talk | September 27, 2025, 6:00 PM
Artist Talk | September 27, 2025, 6:00 PM
Zaratan is pleased to present The Dragon's Hair: Hello from the botanical Garden, an open studio by our artist-in-residence, Yuki Kodaira.
During her stay, Kodaira was struck by the abundance of botanical gardens and parks within the metropolis of Lisbon. These spaces, filled with towering palms, cacti, and tropical flowers, are not just urban oases but also living archives of Portugal's history of botanical research, education, and centuries of cultural exchange. Their presence overlaps with the traces of people who have crossed borders and migrated throughout history.
Among these plants, she found species native to her home country, Japan, such as camellias and hydrangeas. Their journey echoes the long historical ties that began in 1543 when the Portuguese first arrived on a Japanese island, marking the first encounter between Japan and Europe. For Kodaira, these plants are living testaments to this shared history, having played multiple roles as medicine, food, and symbols of social status over the centuries.
Through animation and digital collage, Kodaira will present the plants she encountered in Lisbon as powerful symbols of this enduring cultural dialogue.
During her stay, Kodaira was struck by the abundance of botanical gardens and parks within the metropolis of Lisbon. These spaces, filled with towering palms, cacti, and tropical flowers, are not just urban oases but also living archives of Portugal's history of botanical research, education, and centuries of cultural exchange. Their presence overlaps with the traces of people who have crossed borders and migrated throughout history.
Among these plants, she found species native to her home country, Japan, such as camellias and hydrangeas. Their journey echoes the long historical ties that began in 1543 when the Portuguese first arrived on a Japanese island, marking the first encounter between Japan and Europe. For Kodaira, these plants are living testaments to this shared history, having played multiple roles as medicine, food, and symbols of social status over the centuries.
Through animation and digital collage, Kodaira will present the plants she encountered in Lisbon as powerful symbols of this enduring cultural dialogue.
The exhibition will be complemented by an artist talk with the artist on Saturday, September 27th, at 6:00 PM. A limited-edition risograph poster, produced in collaboration with Stolen Prints, will also be released at the event.
BIOGRAPHY:
YUKI KODAIRA (b. 1992, Japan) is a visual artist currently based in Germany, where she studies Visual Communication. Her work employs animation, illustration, and graphic design to explore themes of urban life and cultural difference. She has created illustrations for Japanese literary magazines, participated in illustration fairs in Taiwan and Lithuania, and draws upon her background in sociology and music therapy. Through her art, Kodaira explores communication that transcends language and cultural barriers.
YUKI KODAIRA (b. 1992, Japan) is a visual artist currently based in Germany, where she studies Visual Communication. Her work employs animation, illustration, and graphic design to explore themes of urban life and cultural difference. She has created illustrations for Japanese literary magazines, participated in illustration fairs in Taiwan and Lithuania, and draws upon her background in sociology and music therapy. Through her art, Kodaira explores communication that transcends language and cultural barriers.
SUPPORT | República Portuguesa – Cultura, Juventude e Desporto / Direção-Geral das Artes / Direção-Geral das Artes