Tatsuo Miyajima

Tatsuo Miyajima is a Japanese contemporary artist, born in 1957 in Tokyo, best known for his LED-based installations that explore the philosophical concepts of time, life, and human existence. Central to his work are flashing LED counters, displaying constantly changing numbers, typically from 1 to 9, symbolizing the continuous flow of time and the cycles of life, while the absence of zero reflects his belief in the continuity of life rather than finality or death. Through this minimalist yet deeply symbolic language, Miyajima addresses universal ideas about change, interconnectedness, and the impermanence of life.Miyajima studied at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he initially focused on performance art before moving into installations and sculpture, combining his interest in technology and philosophy. His work is influenced by Buddhist thought, particularly the concepts of time, mortality, and eternal cycles of life and death. This spiritual underpinning is evident in pieces like Counter Ground and Mega Death, which incorporate thousands of LED lights and counters, visually representing the infinite and the transient nature of existence.One of Miyajima's most famous works, Mega Death (1999), exhibited at the Venice Biennale, is a dark room filled with blue LED lights that flicker and extinguish before returning to life. This piece, dedicated to the memory of mass deaths throughout history, evokes a powerful meditation on loss, survival, and renewal. The cyclical nature of the lights turning on and off reflects his belief in the continuous cycle of life, a theme that is at the core of much of his work.Miyajima's installations often invite viewer interaction, making the audience a part of the ongoing process. In works like Time Waterfall (2016), he projected numbers cascading down a building, emphasizing the collective experience of time. His use of technology as a medium to express philosophical ideas is a key element of his practice, merging the precision of digital art with the fluid, abstract nature of human thought and emotion.Exhibiting internationally in prestigious venues such as the Tate Modern, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, and the Venice Biennale, Tatsuo Miyajima has established himself as a leading figure in contemporary art. His innovative use of technology to explore existential questions resonates globally, making his work both a visual and intellectual exploration of the passage of time, the cycles of life, and the human experience.