Year of the Horse Gallery Installation Unveiling
Please note donations are optional, you can attend without donating. There is no entry fee.
The Japanese Culture Center presents a special gallery installation celebrating the Year of the Horse at Whistler Chicago on February 21. Drawing from the Center’s permanent collection, the installation brings together selected artworks and cultural artifacts that speak to continuity, motion, and vitality within Japanese visual culture. These historical elements are presented alongside a newly commissioned neon work spelling “Chicago” using an archaic romanization from the Meiji period, a rarely seen spelling that reflects a moment of linguistic transition during Japan’s rapid modernization.
Together, the installation and neon work evoke the spirit of the Fire Horse, an astrological symbol associated with intensity, independence, resilience, and forward momentum. By situating these works within a contemporary urban venue, the project highlights both the enduring strength of Japanese artistic traditions and their evolving presence within Chicago’s cultural landscape.
The unveiling evening begins with a public reception at 6:00 PM, inviting visitors to view the installation and engage with the space. At 8:00 PM, butoh artist Sara Zalek presents a live performance that activates the installation through movement. Rooted in contemporary Japanese dance, the performance emphasizes physicality, transformation, and temporal awareness, responding directly to the atmosphere and themes of the installation.
The night continues with a DJ set by Van Paugam from 10:00 PM to 2:30 AM, extending the celebration into a late-night gathering that bridges visual art, performance, and sound.
Venue: Whistler Chicago
Date: February 21
Reception: 6:00 PM
Performance: 8:00 PM
DJ Set: 10:00 PM–2:30 AM
