A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling is a two-person international touring exhibition, first staged at the Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art. It features the work of London-based Singaporean artist Erika Tan (b. 1965, Singapore) and Japanese artist Mio Shirai (b. 1962, Kyoto, Japan).
During the summer of 2008, each artist spent time in the other’s country of residence. The research and resulting commissioned film, video, and photographic installations are part of the British Council’s UK-Japan 2008 and Japan-UK 150 festivals, which celebrate the anniversary of trade and cultural links between the two countries. The commissioned works went on to tour BankART 1929 in Yokohama in 2009.
The exhibition’s title draws inspiration from the life story of one of the earliest known explorers, Ibn Battuta. In 1325, the Moroccan Battuta began exploring the limits of the known world and spent 30 years traveling approximately 75,000 miles, gathering knowledge about various cultures. He dictated the account of his travels to a fellow scholar, resulting in a work titled “A Gift to Those…” also known simply as “The Journey.” Battuta’s travels significantly enhance our understanding of medieval history, geography, and intercultural interactions, serving as an inspiration for scholars, historians, and travelers alike. His adventures highlight human curiosity and the universal desire for knowledge that transcends time and borders.
Both artists followed in Battuta’s footsteps, creating works that blend observation with speculation while examining our ability to understand the world through travel, exploration, and cross-cultural comparison. Historical and symbolic allusions recur throughout the exhibition, reflecting on the past to shed light on the present.
Mio Shirai’s short films are infused with an enigmatic and absurd sensibility, often characterized by suspense. They retell traditional stories and myths for a mature audience. To borrow the artist’s own words, her work seems to “wander from the right path.” Shirai’s piece **Forever Afternoon** is inspired by this theme and the imaginary tale of *Alice in Wonderland*. In this work, Alice, portrayed by Shirai herself, symbolizes the delegates who traveled through the northeastern part of England 150 years ago, bringing back new perspectives to Japan. A moment where Alice tells the March Hare, “that’s not very ‘civil’ of you,” resonates with the purpose of the delegates’ visit to England: to learn from European civilization. Shirai’s photographic work visualizes the connections established by these comparisons, while her drawings showcase her imaginative processes.
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A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling was co-curated and produced by Keith Whittle and Alistair Robinson, in partnership with BankART 1929, and in association with P3 Art and Environment and The Graduate School of Film and New Media at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. The residencies and exhibitions were generously supported by The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, The Japan Foundation, The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Arts Council England, and Japan 150.
A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling is a two-person international touring exhibition, first staged at the Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art. It features the work of London-based Singaporean artist Erika Tan (b. 1965, Singapore) and Japanese artist Mio Shirai (b. 1962, Kyoto, Japan).
A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling is a two-person international touring exhibition, first staged at the Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art. It features the work of London-based Singaporean artist Erika Tan (b. 1965, Singapore) and Japanese artist Mio Shirai (b. 1962, Kyoto, Japan).
