An exhibition titled “Unchained Malady” by Cali Dewitt will be held at KOMIYAMA TOKYO G in Jimbocho, Tokyo, from April 19th (Friday) to April 28th (Sunday).
Cali Dewitt is an artist based in Los Angeles, USA. Grounded in the early days of the LA hardcore scene, he has been expressing himself primarily through words for many years, expanding his work from music labels to graphics, zines, apparel, and more. His portfolio ranges from indie bands like Iceage and Lust For Youth to rapper Kanye West’s merchandise. In 2021, he co-founded the fashion brand “Saint Mxxxxxx” with Yuta Hosokawa, the founder of Readymade. With a boundary-breaking approach that defies categorization, Dewitt continues to push the boundaries of expression with his distinctive reality-based artwork.
Modern Primitive: A culture that redefines the body through tattoos and body piercings, seeking individuality. Originating in Los Angeles as a counter-culture movement in the post-Cold War technology society, it has spread worldwide. It signifies “aiming for a modern primitive” through body modifications.
In the exhibition, under the theme of “Unchained Malady,” inspired by Elvis Presley’s classic song, graphic works of a new system radiating freedom of pleasure and energy towards life will be displayed and available for purchase. The new pieces, adorned with sensory words, embody a challenge to the unadorned “freedom of pure expression.”
The motif of rubber masks depicted in the same exhibition emerged as an antithesis to the simplistic wellness consciousness, where people crave excessive cleanliness and the right answers in life, hoping for their “true life” to begin overnight. Positioned juxtaposed with the phrase “accepting oneself as is,” the masks create a paradoxical interpretation by donning a third skin of rubber, generating a love for perversion and offering a thrilling sense of happiness that expands infinitely from the raw repetition of words.
In addition, in conjunction with the event, a “Modern Primitive” exhibition will be held at KOMIYAMA TOKYO G’s Komiyama Shoten, located a 3-minute walk away from the venue on the third floor. This exhibition will feature various items for display and sale, including back issues of “BURST” published in the 1990s, books by photographer Charles Gatewood, and vintage porn movie posters collected by Cali DeWitt in Los Angeles.
Cali Dewitt “Unchained Malady”
Dates: Friday, April 19 – Sunday, April 28
Open: 12:00 – 18:30 (Sunday: ~17:30)
Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday
Venue: KOMIYAMA TOKYO G
Ryumeikan Bldg. 2, 1FD, 3-20-4 Kanda Ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0052, Japan
