Brazilian-American visual artist Oscar Oiwa is returning to Tokyo with a solo exhibition at Shibuya Hikarie. Oiwa is known for his unique way of expressing global issues through social satire and plenty of humour, which he builds into his multimedia compositions. Born in São Paulo, Oiwa started his artistic career in Japan before moving to New York, where he is currently based. He has previously held large-scale exhibitions at prominent museums and art festivals around Japan, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.
Oiwa's upcoming exhibition in Tokyo centres on the fictional aquatic creature ‘Oil Octopus’, and how it lives through turbulent times as an expression of ongoing environmental issues. The show features a range of new artworks including 25 paintings, videos and three-dimensional pieces. ‘Oil Octopus’ made its first appearance in Oiwa's 1999 painting 'Aquarium', but here you'll get to experience the creature as a guide to the exhibition as it drifts in and out of Shibuya Hikarie via banners and artwork displays on multiple floors of the building.
Another highlight of the exhibition is the massive mural on the fourth-floor Hikarie deck. The final touches of the mural will be completed by Oiwa himself during a public showcase on May 3, and the piece will remain on display until September. Additionally, a giant balloon which was previously shown at the Keelung Art Festival in Taiwan will also be on display.
If you're around Shibuya Crossing, you'll want to keep an eye out for a special video announcement introducing the exhibition which will be shown on the Q's Eye in front of the crossing. The video is playing from April 1 to 30 at every hour between 9am and 11pm.
You'll also be able to pick up some special souvenirs from the exhibition, as there'll be a range of merchandise available including Oil Octopus T-shirts, tote bags, stickers, pins and other fun surprises.