Sen Takahashi

다카하시 센

 

 

▷ Before becoming an artist, you worked as a specialist in sculpture conservation and restoration. How has that experience influenced your artistic practice?

“My father was a sculpture conservation specialist, so I naturally began my career in the field of conservation. Conservation work, by its very nature, involves engaging with someone else’s ‘collection’—so in a sense, other people’s collected objects have always been part of my life. This background remains an integral part of who I am and continues to influence my work profoundly. The very foundation of my practice is rooted in the concept of ‘conservation’ itself.”

 

▷ Your work seems to diverge from conventional notions of ‘conservation. Could you elaborate on your concept of the ‘decaying collection’?

“I conceptually collect and display the ‘inevitability of decay’ embedded within objects, in contrast to museum vitrines, which aim to preserve artifacts indefinitely. The items in my collection are presented in their natural process of deterioration and eventual disappearance. This ‘decaying collection’ reflects my commitment to confronting—rather than denying—the transience of all things.”

 

 

Triangulation-The earth, Myself, Someone #5, Printed image, variable size, 2022

 

▷ What draws you to the theme of ‘decay’?

“Imagining what might remain after we leave this world can serve as a meaningful entry point for reflecting on life itself. A shirt once worn, a half-used bottle of shampoo, a photograph, a fading memory—each of these is destined to vanish at its own pace. My work is rooted in contemplating ‘how we might say goodbye to such things—gently, and with a smile.’”

 

▷ What kinds of questions do you hope to raise through your exploration of ‘decay’ in the context of an art fair?

“Art fairs, by nature, encourage us to reflect on the concept of ‘ownership’. “Here, I would like to raise a fundamental question: if an artwork inherently contains destruction or disappearance within its structure, how do we preserve its value and meaning? This is not simply a matter for one artist alone, but a subject that calls for reflection from all of us involved in the creation, circulation, and appreciation of art.”

 

Sacrificial Corrosion, Perfumed oil, variable size, 2020