Inside and Outside of Pop Art

Date｜March 19th ‒ April 28th, 2022
Time｜12:00 – 18:00
/ Closed on Mon. Sun. Holiday
Place｜Sho＋1

Sho+1 is pleased to announce a group exhibition, titled “Inside and Outside of Pop Art” from March 19th to April 28th, 2022.

This exhibition focuses once again on the diversity of artistic expression within the realm of Pop Art. Featuring works by 12 artists based in six cities around the world, the exhibition transcends generations, cultures, and backgrounds. Through this exhibition, we will examine the “now” expressed by Pop artists living in the present age, as well as the “future” development of Pop Art.

Exhibiting Artists：
Philip Colbert, Dongi Lee, Jonathan Seliger, Rammellzee,
Rob Pruitt, Rodney Alan Greenblat, Clara Desire, Bel Fullana,
fusengirl, Makoto Saito, Itaru Hirama, Shinichi Hara

The Origins of Pop Art
In the late 1940s to mid-1950s, several collage works emerged in the UK that featured the word “POP” prominently.

One representative example is Eduardo Paolozzi’s “I Was a Rich Man’s Plaything” (1947), in which a cut-out of the word “POP” taken from a toy pop gun package is pasted into the smoke coming from a gun, aimed at a smiling flapper-style woman crouching on the left side of the image.

Another example is Richard Hamilton’s “Just What Is It That Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing?” (1956), in which the wrapper of a giant lollipop held at waist height by a semi-nude bodybuilder reads “POP.”

It was around this time that the word “pop” first began to appear in the context of visual art. Works emerged that used materials such as advertising, packaging design, pop music, magazines, and comics—reflecting an interest in the imagery and technology of mass culture.

Meanwhile, in the United States, works with the characteristics of Pop Art also began to appear. While the origins of Pop Art in the U.S. differed from those in the UK, both shared a form that merged symbols of mass consumerism and reflected everyday life and commercial culture. British works often had romantic, sentimental, and humorous nuances, while American artists, in contrast, generally created bolder and more aggressive works.

Diversity of Pop Art Forms and the Evolution of Its Definition
By tracing back to the origins of Pop Art and reflecting on its transitions and development, it becomes clear that its definition and interpretation have gradually changed, shaped by the roots of each artist and the era in which they lived. Techniques vary widely, including collage, silkscreen, oil painting, and spray paint.

Pop Art also embraces a wide range of formats, from two-dimensional works to sculpture, and even actions such as mass production itself being regarded as art. This formal diversity is one of the defining characteristics of Pop Art.

Since the 1950s, Pop Art has flourished on both sides of the Atlantic. Now, more than half a century later, this exhibition brings together works created from a variety of perspectives by artists of diverse backgrounds. The collection is rich in diversity and embodies key Pop Art themes such as “consumer goods, mass production, sexiness, popularity, and big business.”
We invite you to take this opportunity to experience the world of Pop Art.