This instrument was originally played in China and other Asian countries since 3,000years ago. It came down from China to Japan around 5-6C with Buddhism. The structure and method hasn’t been changed since then.

The shape represents a phoenix resting its wings. Seventeen pipes are tightly set into a round shaped case. Performer blows from the mouthpiece underneath. It sounds uninterruptedly by both exhalation and inhalation, it gives an image of an eternal light.

The music is based on Taoism and theory of Yin-Yang and the five elements. Each music are specified to be played in a certain time, season, color, direction and occasion. The sounds guide us to the ancient time, where people were appreciating to live in good harmony with nature.

In this year-crossing concert, Kazue Tajima plays the music for New Year and for a sexual occasion, along to the theme of the exhibition "Pink".

Thomas Bohle (ceramist)

Born in Dornbirn, Austria in 1958. Started studying pottery since 1987, experiences in different studios. Opened his own studio at Dornbirn in 1991. First trip to Japan in 2002, visited different potters. First solo exhibition in Japan (Tokyo, Gallery ef, April-May) and in China (Shanghai, Peninsula Art Center, July) in 2004.
His highly-refined skill and outstanding expression of aesthetic, specially in its unique form and rich variation of glazes are highly regarded in those homelands of ceramic. Having taken part in Shanghai Art Fair as an invited participant, two years in a row.

Thomas Bohle
solo exhibition in Japan "YaShi"
solo exhibition in China "DanYa"

Zhang Shaojun (painter)

An Asian avant-garde artist, borin in Shanghai, China in 1958.
Graduated from Shanghai Arts and Crafts Academy in 1982. He began studying in Japan in 1988. There he received M.A. degree in Arts from the Graduate School of Tama Art University in 1995.
His works appeared in many major joint or individual shows held in China, Japan and other countries since 1991.
His unique aesthetic is based on a profound knowledge of culture, history and philosophy. He expresses it in the deep contrasting density of black ink.
Having established his own studio in Shanghai, he is presently working at his art production while shuttling between Shanghai and Tokyo.

solo exhibitions at Gallery éf
"Story of the Back Garden" March 2000
"Balanceology - guan xi xue" January 2004
"guan xi xue" detail

visual collaboration: Gerhard Klocker (photographer)

1962 born in Hard, Austria, studies electronics and music in Vienna, works as a printer, set - decorator and washing machine salesman moves to London, England, works illegally as chef and waiter ...sometimes, first work published - fashion and advertisingwork, portraits and "free work" successively he develops his destinctive visionary style, which is much appreciated with certain folks.
After ten years in exile, he returns to Austria for some time, today lives and works in Paris, France.

Gerhard Klocker
solo exhibition at Gallery éf "9cuts" April 2001
case of "subway ad" April 2005

SATSUMA Lute concert & lecture

19:30, 23/ 25 Feb.

Kakushin Tomoyoshi
"hanaichikan" vol.16
featuring: Nasuno Yoichi

3.10
19:00 Fri. 10 Mar.
IKKO SUZUKI: dance performance
Kirara Kawachi: sound

photo: Daito Noken

admission 2,500Yen (with 1drink)

In the early morning of March 10th, 1945, eastern Tokyo was heavily bombed by the US air force. More than 100,000 people were killed that morning, most of victims were elders, women, and children.

Not many buildings survived the bombs- one of the very few exceptions is this old storage. Now it's called gallery ef- it stands here in Asakusa since then.

After that, Japan is fortunate to have nothing to fall on us from the sky- except rains- But in the world, there are civilians suffering with the fall of bombs everyday. Tokyo Bombing tells us the story- story we should share with the world. A dancer Suzuki Ikko will collaborate with the voices of survivors in the gallery ef on March 10th. It would be a night to share the moment that happened 61 years ago.

from same view point, 2006

19:00 Sun. 12 Mar.
Samm Bennett : percussion
Ned Rothenberg : woodwinds

flyer by polarity design

admission: 2,000Yen
1drink ticket 500Yen at door

Samm Bennett's explorations in sound and rhythm are ever-changing and always interesting. Whether using drums and percussion, electronic instruments, voice, toys, gadgets, vibrators or whatever likely object happens to be close enough to grab, his performances continually surprise and engage his audiences. More info, sound files, etc.

Ned Rothenberg's intense focus on developing his own unique language for wind instruments (saxophones, clarinets and shakuhachi) has earned him high acclaim. His mastery of circular breathing and his creation of rich harmonic overtones are just two of the factors that make Ned's performances a delight for the listener.

Bennett and Rothenberg's concert at the historic Gallery ef will be a unique opportunity to hear these longtime collaborators perform in a completely acoustic, unamplified setting. Seating in the lovely and intimate gallery space is limited, and reservations are required.

24 Mar. - 16 Apr.
Hidetoshi Yamada
breath
drawings/ sketches

Hidetoshi Yamada started working as an artist for the Ozone Community in 1991 and following a series of solo exhibitions with them, in 1999 he moved to England. There, he developed his creative activities, mainly in London's East End, holding several well-received solo exhibitions of his work.
This exhibition "Breath" is Yamada's first exhibition of new work since his return to Japan, for which he has chosen "scenes of Tokyo" as his theme. Through his sketches, he brings viewers from Tokyo a new perspective on their hometown. As the title suggests, the work depicts everyday scenes and objects, the things which make up our daily lives. However, his work depicts these things in an affectionate and gentle manner. He transfers his drawings onto transparent film and colours them in from the reverse side: a technique he devised when he was in London so as to give emphasis to the liveliness of the line.
For this exhibition, while making a 1200mm wide collage of transparent film, he has produced approximately 30 large-scale works.

photo: Kohshu Sakai

ROUROU x Hidetoshi Yamada x Gallery éf
collaboration T-shirt
50 limited: 3,900 Yen

Ladies': black x pink Mens': pink x purple Japanese size
SOLD OUT

collaboration with Chinese traditional craft: paper cutting
10 limited edition: 15,000 Yen (frame included)
color: white, red, black, green, orange

SATSUMA Lute concert & lecture

19:30, 20/ 22 Apr.

Kakushin Tomoyoshi
"hanaichikan" vol.17
featuring: The Battle of Kawanakajima

　Gallery éf 9th anniversary exhibition

28 Apr. - 4 Jun.
Toshi. OTA + Keeda Oikawa
LE PITTORESQUE AU JAPON with STORE HOUSE 2006
photograph + drawing

12:00-21:00 closed on Tuesdays
admission free (except for performance event)

review PingMag

opening reception 19:00 Fri. 28 Apr.

live painting at bar
by Keeda Oikawa
open 19:00, Sat. 13 May

in the exhibition
LE PITTORESQUE AU JAPON with STORE HOUSE 2006

admission: 1,500Yen with 1 drink
No appointment necessary

collaboration with Edo Kiyari:
a work song generated in Edo period
among lumber carriers to bring a solid combination

photo: Toshi. OTA

Photographer Toshi. OTA and painter Keeda Oikawa have started collaboration work series "LE PITTORESQUE AU JAPON" since 2002. Both two artists who are active and well regarded in their respective fields, inspire each other and create the world of "picturesque Japan" as the title suggests, by the combination of photograph and drawing.
The images consist of traditional motifs such as plants, tea, Kimono, Butoh, and so on, which represent Japanese beauty. Selected models and stylings are precisely engaged and interwoven with the image, thus, it presents a novel conception of contemporary Japanese beauty.
The graphics are printed not only on a ink jet paper but also on a mesh paper, Japanese paper, films, those which enrich a texture of materials and images.
In this exhibition, they collaborate also with the venue itself, a renovated store house which was built in 1868 with a traditional architectural skills. "Picturesque Japan" will flower in the air of stateliness.
Keeda Oikawa will attempt a first try at live painting performance with Kiyari: a work song generated in Edo period among lumber carriers to bring a solid combination.

more work

Toshi. OTA: Photographer / Director of Photography
From documentaries to entertainment, Toshi. OTA has been directing various forms of films, while working for fashion/music media as a photographer and shooting commercials for Saison Group and Parco...
Since the 1990's 'Rolling Stones Japan Tour Report' for MTV, he has served as an official cameraman for top artist such as B-B King, John Lurie, Nick Cave and Bjork....

Keeda Oikawa: painting / illustration
Keeda Oikawa was born in Tokyo and graduated from Tokyo National University of fine art & music with a degree in oil painting in 1992.
Her drawings, illustrations and designworks have been widely shown in major magazines. And also, She have 'SLIDE SHOW' , ' live panting' in collaboration with photographers, musicians, actors, ...many kind of creators and fasion brands.

photo: Toshi. OTA

Japanese Folk Song
singer: Shigeri Kitsu
19:00, Thu. 8 Jun.

Manabu Kikuchi has been a main textile designer for ISSEY MIYAKE MEN line since 1988.
In his continuing to develop new materials and fibers as a textile designer, he created dyeing rust method (SABI ZOME)*1 in his own development.
Since 2000,Kikuchi’s work as an artist himself has just started out.
The first his project, “ Mohri Color and Space; Part 4  SABI “, Mr Mohri*2  has been responsible for the concept proposal,art direction for space arrangement, Kikuchi produced the Final Curtain of the 20 Century/ the Premiere of the 21st Century with SABI.
Then he has held “ SABI “ exhibitions several times a year after that .
At SABI KIJYAKU , he created lattices,stripes,snow storm patterns ,which are one of the traditional old Japanese patterns represent on Kimono, on KIJAKUs*3 with his dyeing rust method.
And also he chose the MIYABI letters*4 on KIJAKUs with his method.
"SABI" is defined as the processes, qualities and results of "RUST", and also the word "SABI" has been deeply in Japanese mind as simple elegance. SABI meets the ancient Chinese hieroglyphics as MIYABI on KIMONOs.
"I Believe a KIMONO is one of the great plane dress in Japan, and I chose a KIJAKU as a canvas for like a drawing these patterns with SABI. The MIYABI letters on KIMONO seems to be dancing with SABI. " - Manabu Kikuchi's words.

*1 Dyeing Rust method (SABI ZOME) : (a patent exhibition no.2002-069861) Manabu Kikuchi has created on his own dyeing. The silkscreening with metal powders for a certain period of time on fabrics,rust goes on ,laid down over the rust colored .

*2 Mr.Mohri Tomio ; He has been great responsible for the art and costume designs for many productions in opera,ballet,Noh etc. And also he used to be the designer of ISSEY MIYAKE MEN line.

*3 KIJAKU ; It is a patterned fabric before sawing KIMONO.

*4 the MIYABI letters ; A decorative style of ancient Chinese character, which was developed as an art form exclusively by a ruler and his court 2,500years ago.

Manabu Kikuchi biography

Graduated from Bunka Fashion College, Textile design major, and started to work at Miyashin Co., LTD. With working at this woven fabric factory, he studied technical know-how of woven fabric and all knowledge about textile. During working at this clothier, he created and provided material for collection of Miyake Design Studio (MDS) presided by Issey Miyake. At that time, he was highly influenced by a textile designer, Makiko Minagawa and deepened the understanding toward creating products. In 1988, he changed his career at MDS, directed by Tomio Mohri.

After transferred to MDS, he was put in charge of the textile direction of Men’s collection team directed by Issey Miyake and Tomio Mohri. During this time, he learned idea and methodology of creating products from various aspects physically, mentally and realistically. This experience was his origin of his idea and its development.

Since 1993, he has taken charge of the textile design of Naoki Takizawa, the main designer of ISSEY MIYAKE. With his philosophy, Kikuchi learned modern sense and orientation of design and got chances of development of various material and presentation of his works at Paris Collection, Milan Collection and other collections.

In 2002, he got an opportunity to design the textile of ISSEY MIYAKE FETE and re-realized the origin of idea and mind of Issey Miyake.

Kikuchi has been interested in the color design of rust and continued research and development. When he explored the way of expression, Tomio Mohri proposed the concept of the “Rust Exhibition” and Kikuchi took charge of the production of drop curtain, which is main of space presentation.

In 2000, October, Kikuchi presented his rust dyed silk at the Aoyama Spiral Garden, in Tokyo. The size of the fabric was 9 x 15 meters and he used this huge fabric to resemble a drop curtain. This covered whole venue and the title was named as “Rust Color Fabric Dividing Centuries”.

At the present, Kikuchi works as a textile designer of “ISSEY MIYAKE by NAOKI TAKIZAWA”. To develop new materials, he often visits many places in both domestic and overseas to explore product districts and find materials. As an artist, he creates various kinds of art pieces on the theme of “rust” to express the dynamism and the splendor of nature.

The body of photographs "Indefinite Path" is a journey through a real landscape.The journey is unsure, unconscious, lasting for an unknown length of time; it has no preconceived direction or goals, but never than less it has full of meanings:it is the movement of people, places and colors, flowing through life.
A delicate, sensitive color, floats on the surface of the image. In these photographs, the state of things, change: the landscape, the memory and the colors of things appear in a way, closer to my feelings and entwined with the light and the moment of life.

The birth of this series of Pellegatta was the chance to meet the creative fashion brand ROUROU, and to have the opportunity to publish a photo-book as the first product in their artist collaboration project with Gallery ef.
The design concept of ROUROU is, ROUROU Land: an unknown land somewhere in Asia, an ideal land, which is peaceful and matured spiritually and culturally. No one knows where it is, but it surely exists in many people's minds.
Pellegatta freely exchanged his sensibilities on an artistic creation, shared images and concept with ROUROU. The images seem like a traveler's view who wanders around the imaginary land.
Part of this collaboration will be on a same theme, with the idea to put into images and clothes an ancient Chinese poem from the Shi King or Book of poetry, compiled by Confucius about 500 B.C.

Leonardo Pellegatta

Born in Milan Italy in 1970; graduated in Fine Arts at the School of Visual Arts of New York in 1996. Since 1997, works as a professional photographer especially for theater and dance performance. Since 1998, becomes official photographer for the Festival of the Two Worlds. Images has been used by Shiseido and Malo basic for commercial use. Since 2003, moves to Japan, starts collaborating with some magazines.Publishes on the Mono magazine part of a series of portrait of the Italian Circus and the series "Tokyo East End Drive" about the urban landscape of Tokyo along the borderline between the Chiba prefecture and Tokyo prefecture. The same year 2003, contacted by Dentsu Japan, takes the photos for the Yomiuri Shimbun anniversary campaign. Has partecipated to several exibitions in Italy and abroad with personal and experimental works. Along career as a photographer, directed some experimental videos. In 1997, video "I am making a road" is selected at the Invideo festival of the Triennale of Milan. In 2001 with G. De Vecchi, directs the documentary film "Tabanka ka mori" (a musical heritage at the Cape Verde Islands), that is supported by the Unesco in the cultural program "La route de l'esclave". Since a few years, working on a documentary film and a photographic project about the Italian Circus.

AKI UEDA
U-Zhaan

TENKUU
Gyouten + Percussion Hana

Samm Bennett

Samm Bennett's explorations in sound and rhythm are ever-changing and always interesting. Whether using drums and percussion, electronic instruments, voice, toys, gadgets, vibrators or whatever likely object happens to be close enough to grab, his performances continually surprise and engage his audiences.