Are You Meaning Company

Are You Meaning Houses, 2003

The Japanese artist Ayumi Minemura adopted her pseudonym ‘Are You Meaning Company’ in 1999. In her procedural projects, she tracks down the social warping in Japanese society which is increasingly questioning its self-concept itself. This manifests itself first and foremost in the classical role of women in the family, professional and social life spheres. To avoid labelling of personal nature – especially as an artist – Ayumi Minemura packages her art in a ‘service offer’. Her projects revolve around human relations and focus on the design of complete settlements, for instance in Are You Meaning Houses: Linen suitcases each with 50 houses folded out of colored paper are made available. The open design of the work allows to test community constellations, as well as to create space for individualization to develop alternative models of community life.