microtrash

Closely related to the spirit of micropop, I'm seeing more of microtrash these days. Not that using found objects is a new concept, but seeking out the obscene, filthy, and diseased... in a cute way... seems to be catching on. That's the theme of the latests bang by the Tokyo-based art collective Chim↑Pom exhibit at the newly re-opened gallery space, NADiff in Ebisu, Tokyo. Basically, the show consists of a flooded basement of the newly constructed building. Little Manneken Piss slowly trickles urine onto the floor, where hundreds of piece of trash, and PET bottles are floating or sinking amidst other bloated objects. Spray paint covers the walls with mindless non-threatening messages. Generally, the scene is puke-colored, but cute anyway. And so wrong. Amidst the mixed messages thrown around in pop culture today, from green capitalism (referred to as "eco" in Japan) to consumerism to "cuteness," from that obscure flooded basement, they scream, through homemade video, FUCK ECO! Or, more like, rrraaarrrr aaaaaaa aaarrrrrrrrArrr.
Chim Pom recently received a glimmering review in the NY Times recently.