Matsunaga's works tell mostly of the global conditions, of the ways the world has progressed - not always in positive ways. Some groups of people are living amidst luxuries, yet some others are living in dire poverty. Even those who are well off in rich countries still have doubts about their future. Many intellectuals are no longer certain about the paths that humans have taken. This condition is made worse by the fact that quarrels and animosities among nations and religions continue to take place in increasingly alarming scale. Thoughts like Huntington's with his 'clash of civilizations' become the premise most people will avidly believe in. This is naturally scary for people who want peace and goodness prevailing on the Earth. Misuho Matsunaga is one of the artists who disagree with Huntington.

Matsunaga is indeed an artist with a positive mind. That is why her works carry the message about her belief that the world and the different societies in it can live harmoniously and understand each other. The title of the work she presents in this open biennale, "Stories under the Same Sky", clearly indicates this belief. Misuho apparently wants to fight against the belief about the possibility of such 'clash of civilizations'. She believes in exactly the opposite. "I don't want to agree with the phrase 'Clash of Civilizations'. I think that every civilization has the wide capacity and adjustability to accept differences, and we have progressed to do just that."

Apparently, Matsunaga's positive logic is born out of her highly tolerant mind frame. She therefore thinks positively about others. However, she is not naïve and realizes that the changes toward a better future must be fought for, and not taken for granted as something that will evidently happen. Matsunaga's works reveal such fights. Her installation work, "Stories under the Same Sky," clearly betray the idealism of the artist. A mattress and a mosquito net appear as the dominant components, and inside the netting, images of figures from all over the world are hung accompanied by bells made of various materials. The work is very suggestive, verbal, and in accordance with the wishes of the artist: A portrayal of the harmonious presence of different human beings.

Misuho talks about grand matters, matters about humanity. In this case, she may be placed outside the mainstream tendency that likes to talk about and present trivial and partial matters. This, however, has been Misuho's strength and speciality. This is perhaps also the consequence of her choice as she wants to talk about the matters of human beings. Therefore, she gives almost no space for her personal matters. Or perhaps the grand matters have also become her personal problems.

Asmudjo Jono Irianto

Born on 1976 in Aichi, Japan.
Studied at Musashino Art University, Tokyo, Japan (BA; 2000), (MA; 2002).

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2000 "A Flying Cheese Burger and A Snap in the Church", Pepper's Loft Gallery, Tokyo.
2001 "another story", Galleria Rasen, Tokyo.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2000 Graduation Works of MAU Major of Metal and Ceramic Craft Design Spiral, Tokyo.
2001 "Panic Chic Stripe", Musashino Art University, Tokyo.
2003 "reply", Yogyakarta Festival of Arts XV, Societet Militer Taman Budaya, Yogyakarta.

PERFORMANCES
1999 "About the Bounds", Zamami Island, Okinawa.
2001 "Me for Yesterday, Me for Tomorrow", Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka.

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