The timing of this solo exhibition coincides with the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine that began early 2022. Among all the anti war songs Shun sudo feels that Bob Dylan’s “Blowing in the wind” (1963), one of the most popular anti-war songs, is the most relatable one for him. The song has been said to have been written in support of the black American civil rights movement of that time and raises a rhetorical question about peace, war and freedom. The singer believed that while all the answers were present no one dares to find them.

Although the song carries a strong anti-war message, it never forces an “answer” on its audience, similarly we can see this pattern in shun sudo’s work. “Flowers” and “doves,” which are the main pieces of this exhibition, are subjects frequently used as symbols of peace, which is a rather direct metaphor, and, if you look closely at the “vase” containing the “button flower,” you will notice that it can also look like an upside-down helmet of a soldier. Various other weapons meant for killing, such as shell casings and bazookas, seem to have lost their original destruction purpose and have been reborn into something new, with the artist’s re-appropriation,

In a world where political turmoil is becoming more and more severe by the day, the question of “what can art do” remains. If you are curious about SHUN SUDO’s attempt to answer this question, come and see for yourself.