our lady of

Thomas Demand had a show in the CCA gallery just before the research program ended, coinciding with the Open Studios. In the CCA there were absolutely gigantic floor wall length photographs of a reproduction building in Kokura, the ‘Black Label’ bar. The bar is a tiny ‘mama’ style bar in a seven sided three story building. The building stands alone on a strange gravel patch on an island formed by 3 roads. The strange shape of the bar is accounted for by the fact that a developer recreated the bar in a new location in order to secure it’s previous site for development.  A small neatly framed photograph or a reproduction of the CCA gallery hangs in the ‘Black Label’.

The CCA kids went by to see the work, invaded the 6 seater bar to the amusement of the regulars and were fed til bursting point.  This was taken by my friend Kyoko, it was about one day before I left for home.