youki hirakawa

arrivals/departures

Arrivals & Departures / 2023

Site-specific wall painting, W900mm:H120mm

Arrivals & Departures/2023 is a wall painting featuring texts inspired by airport signage. Throughout the quarantine period, numerous international flights were canceled, leaving the flight board devoid of any destinations. Even to this day(2023), some destinations remain suspended. The world map underwent a complete transformation, with countries feeling more distant than ever before the pandemic. In an act of artistic expression, the artist personally painted the text on the exhibition venue's wall, signifying their own presence/arrival and absence/departure. The artwork reflects the altered world shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, as perceived through the artist's experiences. Additionally, the artwork celebrates the arrival and departure of viewers, acknowledging not only their physical presence in the exhibition venue but also their existence in this world.