This photo exhibition started with the encounter of Tracey, a current locale of Kokubunji, Tokyo, with a Montreal-China background, with the owner of Kojima Gallery, Mr. Kojima Toshio.
Toshio thought of the Kudara Kannon from 5th – 7th century when he met Tracey the first time, while Tracey was enthralled by the BORO and ethnic textile in the Gallery. Without much discussion or plans, they simply started their collaboration, where Tracey wore or wrapped the textiles on her body, and let the clothes move.
The title, Esprits Animaux, implies connections with surrealism and dadaism, as well as extending the imagination to an unusual and sublime space that reminds of the Japanese traditional performance, Noh theater. As such, the exhibition to some extent reflects the world of Yugen, an untranslatable word that allegedly describes one of the most essential elements in Noh theater, as well as connected to tranquility, mystery and depth in pre-modern Japanese art.
