On view: April 12 –May 17, 2003
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 12, 5 –8pm

Liquidation

Yoko Inoue

As part of the citywide THE BUDDHISM PROJECT, FiveMyles presents an installation by Yoko Inoue on the ritual worship Mizuko Jizo.

By adorning roadside statuettes of the deity Jizo with the loving objects of infancy, this ancient ritual meant to bring comfort to the souls of aborted and miscarried fetuses. A growing phenomenon in modern times, the offering is now accompanied by a ritual service in many Buddhist temples, where rows upon rows of mass-produced Jizo statuettes are visible.

In this exhibition, two video projections will immerse the viewer in the tension between the spiritual and the commercial aspects of Mizuko Jizo worship. Rows of large, empty bottled-water containers, adorned with knitted caps, inscribed bibs, aprons and cast ceramic objects, will fill the gallery and offer a parallel version of the ritual as well as an understanding of the spiritual needs that evolved Mizuko Jizo worship. This installation gives full range to Yoko Inoue’s concern with “the interface of commodity and spirit” (Kim Levin), letting the viewer contemplate the function of ceremony and its possible subversion to the demands of commerce.

Originally a grass roots appropriation of the Buddhist deity BodhisattaJizo to help comfort and appease Mizuko (water child), the name given to unborn fetuses, Mizuko Izo worship eventually found its way into the official doctrine of some Buddhist temples. Women honored Jizo as the guardian saint of Mizuko, and at the same time made him a tangible surrogate for their unborn child. With the legalization of abortion in Japan, the offering of this ritual service became a profitable business for some Buddhist temples. This service, with its sophisticated marketing and advertising walks a fine line between commercially exploiting the pain and guilt of women who had abortions and keeping a tradition alive that still has meaning for contemporary Japanese women.

Yoko Inoue’s sculptures and installations have been shown in New York at GreeneNaftali Gallery, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Art in General, Sculpture Center, Long Island University, Brooklyn Public Library, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Socrates Sculpture Park, among other venues. She has had solo exhibitions at Flipside Gallery in Brooklyn and Von Lintel Gallery in New York.This exhibitionhas been generously supported by Marty Markowitz, Borough President of Brooklyn. As another part of THE BUDDHISM PROJECT five myles is organizing Meditation for the Hand at Salena Gallery at Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. This exhibition of work that has been developed through meditative absorption will run from August 11 - October 11, 2003.

For more information about THE BUDDHISM PROJECT, please visit www.buddhismproject.org

DIRECTIONS:

Take 2, 3, or 4 trains to Franklin Avenue. Walk two blocks against the traffic on Franklin. Walk ¾ block to 558 St. Johns Place. FiveMyles is within easy walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum.