upcoming exhibitions

gallery hanahou invites you to immerse yourself in an enchanting dream of little people...

LILLIPUT ~my little friends
by Theatre ALFORT

April 10 - May 14 2008
** opening reception ** April 10 , 6-9pm

Japanese avant-garde art collective ALFORT transform gallery hanahou into an enchanting wonderland, starring the iconic doll Blythe.

"Lilliput ~ my little friends" is a scene from the imaginary Lilliput ballet, in which you, the hero or heroine of the story, fall into a deep sleep and are whisked away to a foreign land. You awake to find yourself on the shore of unconsciousness in this immersive installation of dreams, fantasy, and memory. The exhibit will also feature digital and watercolor artwork by Naito Yamada.

Please join the artists for an opening reception Thursday, April 10, 6-9 pm. [RSVP here]

About ALFORT
Formed in 2005, the avant-garde art collective ALFORT creates artwork around the concept of a fantastical balled company whose productions star the fashion doll Blythe. The five members of ALFORT are Aya Fujimoto, Miyuki Odani, caolu, chai, and Naito Yamada.

About Naito Yamada
Manga artist and ALFORT creative director Naito Yamada's artwork expresses her unique perception of everyday life. Different from traditional Japanese magna, Yamada's work is created for an adult audience, and her many publications have found popularity among multiple generations. Yamada usually creates her artwork entirely digitally, but for this show, she has used watercolor to paint over digital prints for one-of-a-kind pieces.

About Blythe
Originally produced by Kenner Co. in 1972, the Blythe doll was a toy store flop due to her odd proportions and spooky eyes that switched among four colors.
In 2000, CWC reintroduced Blythe to the public with a more grown-up image as a fashion model with a daring sense of style. Blythe's popularity quickly exploded in Asia, and since then, CWC has produced over 50 different editions of the doll, with most of them promptly selling out.
Blythe is now adored worldwide by fashion-conscious collectors, and she is reinvented every year by top designers who participate in CWC's annual Blythe Doll Charity Fashion Exhibition.