On October 23, 1976, in a dark dome-like space, Imai executed a performance titled 6/8 Time, in which the sound of his heartbeat transitions to the sound of a metronome ticking at six eighth note beats per measure, as he photographed the audience using a strobe light in sync with the rhythm in 6/8 Time.

Imaiʼs works incorporating “sound” in the 70s expand the viewer's sensibilities to a kind of rhythm created by the discrepancy or resonance between the self and others, humans and machines, or the myriad “here and nows” that exist between the present and past. This theme is a through-line from his early white semi-3D canvas works that encourage the viewer to contemplate what can be perceived by the superimposition of that which is inherently different. He uses the fluid existence of “sound” as a material, transforming the work from something to be confronted by the viewer to an environment that surrounds the viewer, which in effect blurs the line between the two, an endeavor rich in its experimental spirit.

We have digitized its original sound source for this performance and released as a vinyl record. Each record sleeve is a unique art work by Imai. A sheet of contact print of 34 photographs of the audience taken by Imai in the performance and a liner note containing the texts written by Norio Imai and Yukio Fujimoto (in Japanese) are included.

NORIO IMAI 6/8 Time

Vinyl Record 12inch, 45rpm, Vinyl Dubplate Cutting / Single / 9’53”
Limited edition: 10
JPY 120,000（+ 10% tax）

Published on May 13, 2023
Art work by Norio Imai (record sleeve) / Supervised by Yukio Fujimoto
Produced by ARTCOURT Gallery

＊The original piece was exhibited and performed in Expression in Film & Laser ʼ76 at KBS Laser Rium Center, Kyoto in 1976.

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Production & Shipping

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