Kaikai Kiki Gallery is pleased to present “書道and写真” (English translation: Calligraphy and Photography), the first solo exhibition by Ansel Elgort, starting Saturday, April 20, 2024.
Hollywood actor Ansel Elgort, known for his roles in various films including The Fault in Our Stars and Baby Driver, has starred as the protagonist in TOKYO VICE, a series set in Japan that started in 2022, and has since made frequent visits to Japan for filming.
In TOKYO VICE, set in Tokyo in 1999, Elgort plays the role of a foreign newspaper reporter covering Japan’s yakuza underworld for 13 years. Most of the filming process took place during the pandemic, which led him to immerse himself in Japanese culture both on set and in his personal life, spending time with virtually no expats around. During this time, Elgort studied and mastered proficiency in the Japanese language and deepened his knowledge of traditional Japanese culture and art.
During his stay in Japan, Elgort visited the studios of Takashi Murakami and Kaikai Kiki artist Mr. In Kyoto, he visited Shin Murata’s workshop and pottery store, Tonari no Murata, where he and Murata discussed ceramic artworks while looking at the latter’s Twenty-Four Sekki series on display. Elgort also completed some calligraphy and ceramic works during his visits.
It was through these exchanges that the plan for this solo exhibition was born. The exhibition will feature calligraphy by Elgort, which he has occasionally shared on his Instagram and has attracted much attention, as well as his ceramic works created at Shin Murata’s studio.
In addition, Elgort carries a Nikon F2 camera with him on the film set and in his private life, capturing a variety of scenes. This exhibition will also feature such film photography taken by Elgort during his stay in Japan, including those taken on the set of TOKYO VICE.
The exhibition will be open for one week only. We sincerely look forward to welcoming your visit.
Ansel Elgort
Born on March 14, 1994 in New York City, USA.
Elgort began taking ballet, as well as acting and singing lessons at an early age, and made his debut in the off-Broadway stage production of Regrets at age 18, followed by the remake of Carrie the same year.
He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a leading role for Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver.
His father is photographer Arthur Elgort best known for his work with Vogue and his mother Grethe Holby is an opera director.
He has played the lead role in TOKYO VICE, a WOWOW original series co-produced with HBO MAX, since 2022, which took him all over Japan for filming. Season 2 is currently being aired and streamed on WOWOW every Saturday at 9 pm, and all eight episodes of Season 1 are now available on WOWOW On Demand.
