Tabaimo

Ayako Tabata (born 1975), known by her artist name Tabaimo, is a contemporary Japanese artist who blends hand-drawn imagery with digital techniques to create large-scale animations. Her work evokes the aesthetic of traditional Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) while offering a nuanced and critical perspective on Japanese society.

Tabaimo's Art Style

Tabaimo gained widespread acclaim for her immersive hand-drawn video installations that delve into the hidden layers beneath the orderly, mundane veneer of contemporary Japanese society. Her drawing style, characterized by an intriguing blend of surreal beauty, evokes dynamic lines reminiscent of Hokusai and Hieronymus Bosch.

At STPI, she expanded on its print and papermaking capabilities, creating layers of still images that convey movement and depth, challenging the conventional two-dimensionality of printmaking. This approach led to the creation of a new wallpaper series using textured paper evocative of skin, insect bodies, and lacerated wallpaper, extending her earlier work titled "dolefullhouse," which was screened at the 52nd Venice Biennale.

Exhibitions of Tabaimo's Works

Tabaimo's unique approach to video art has led her to participate in numerous prestigious international group shows, including the Yokohama Triennale (2001), the Sao Paulo Biennale (2002), the 15th Biennale of Sydney, Australia (2006), and the 52nd International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia (2007). She represented Japan at the 54th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia (2011).

He solo exhibitions include "Aitaisei-josei" at Yokohama Museum in Yokahama (2019), "Transparent Distortion" at Pola Museum Annex in Tokyo (2019), "Tabaimo: Clue to Utsushi" at James Cohan in New York (2018), "Hammer Projects: Tabaimo" at Hammer Museum in Los Angeles (2017), and many more. 

Her works are part of significant collections such as the National Museum of Art, Osaka; Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo; the Israel Museum, Jerusalem; MUSAC, Spain; Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris; Moderna Museet, Stockholm; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Asia Society Museum, New York; and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.