Artists Space

Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford

Performance
January 15, 2022, 1pm

11 Cortlandt Alley & online

Image of a photograph attached to a piece of paper. The photograph is of a seated person with a mustache, swifly waving their hands up at chest height. A mirror on the left reflects the figure of a standing person in white pants and a dark shirt.
Milford Graves, from Yara Scrapbook (compiled by Yuji Agematsu), c. 1989. Black and white photograph. Courtesy of the Estate of Milford Graves [Image of a photograph attached to a piece of paper. The photograph is of a seated person with a mustache, swifly waving their hands up at chest height. A mirror on the left reflects the figure of a standing person in white pants and a dark shirt.]

Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color video of a figure moving around a basement space set up with audio mixing equipment. Overlaid free jazz tracks are playing and a crowd watches on.]
A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in front of an orange background.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in front of an orange background.]
A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in front of an orange background. A crowd looks on.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in front of an orange background. A crowd looks on.]
A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space filled with various audio equipment and a stereo player. They lean down to press adjust a dial on an audio mixer.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Filip Wolak [A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space filled with various audio equipment and a stereo player. They lean down to press adjust a dial on an audio mixer.]
A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space filled with various audio equipment and a stereo player. They crouch down to press adjust a dial on an audio mixer.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space filled with various audio equipment and a stereo player. They crouch down to press adjust a dial on an audio mixer.]
A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in an orange-lit space. A crowd looks on.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in an orange-lit space. A crowd looks on.]
A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in an orange-lit space. A crowd looks on.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in an orange-lit space. A crowd looks on.]
A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in front of an orange background. A white light shines down on them from the left.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in front of an orange background. A white light shines down on them from the left.]
A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.]
A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space filled with various audio equipment. They lean down to press adjust a dial on an audio mixer.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space filled with various audio equipment. They lean down to press adjust a dial on an audio mixer.]
A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in an orange-lit space. A seated observer watches in the foreground.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing behind audio mixing equipment and a microphone in an orange-lit space. A seated observer watches in the foreground.]
A color photograph of a figure in an orange and white-lit space, leaning forward slightly to adjust a dial on a piece of audio equipment.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure in an orange and white-lit space, leaning forward slightly to adjust a dial on a piece of audio equipment.]
A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A speaker is visible in the background.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure standing in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A speaker is visible in the background.]
A color photograph of a figure in motion in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure in motion in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.]
A color photograph of a figure in motion in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure in motion in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.]
A color photograph of a figure with raised arms and in motion in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure with raised arms and in motion in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.]
A color photograph of a figure with raised arms and in motion in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure with raised arms and in motion in an orange-lit space next to a small piece of audio equipment with a wire on the floor. A crowd looks on in the background.]
A color photograph of a figure with raised arms in an orange-lit space.
Yuji Agematsu: Chasing Milford. Performance documentation, January 15, 2022, Artists Space. [A color photograph of a figure with raised arms in an orange-lit space.]

Yuji Agematsu (b. 1956, Kanagawa, Japan) lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Agematsu studied with Tokio Hasegawa, a member of the band Taj Mahal Travellers, and the jazz drummer and choreographer Milford Graves. He has had exhibitions at The Secession, (Vienna, 2021), Miguel Abreu Gallery (New York, 2017, 2019 & 2020), Contemporary Art Centre (Vilnius, 2019), Lulu (Mexico City, 2019), the Power Station (Dallas, 2018), Artspeak(Vancouver, 2014), Real Fine Arts (Brooklyn, 2012 & 2014), Anthology Film Archives (New York, 2004), and TZ’Art & Co. (New York, 1994). In 2014, Agematsu mounted a large scale exhibition at Yale Union (Portland, OR), which was accompanied by the monograph ZIP: 01–01–14…12–31–14. Agematsu was prominently included in the 57th Carnegie International, Pittsburgh (2018), and was previously shown in Speak Lokal, Kunsthalle Zurich (2017), Serialities, Hauser & Wirth (New York, 2017), The Keeper, New Museum (New York, 2016), and Looking Back / The 7th White Columns Annual,(2013). His performances have taken place at the Swiss Institute (New York, 2018), Artists Space (New York, 2017), and as part of the solo presentation Walk on A, B, C, at the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, 2016). His work is in the permanent collections of the Whitney, the Walker Art Center, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Brooklyn Museum, The Israel Museum, The Columbus Museum of Art, the Loewe Foundation, and the Pinault Collection. His works are currently view in Greater New York at MoMA PS1 from October 7, 2021 to April 18, 2022.

In keeping with New York City health advisories and in the interest of the safety of our staff and visitors, we will require following:

In adherence to the Key to NYC Mandate, guests must show proof of vaccination to enter Artists Space through the NYC COVID Safe App, Excelsior Pass, CDC Vaccination Card (or photo), NYC Vaccination Record, an official immunization record from outside NYC; staff and visitors must wear a mask at all times, use the available hand sanitizer upon entry, and practice social distancing in the space.

We ask that you do not visit Artists Space if you are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days, or have had close contact with anyone who is confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19. Visitors must make a reservation and provide contact information to aid in the City’s contact tracing efforts.

Lead Support for Milford Graves: Fundamental Frequency is provided by the Robert D. Bielecki Foundation. Core Support is provided by Corbett vs. Dempsey, Martin & Rebecca Eisenberg, and Joe & Nancy Walker.

Program support for Artists Space is provided by The Friends of Artists Space, Lambent Foundation Fund of Tides Foundation, The Cowles Charitable Trust, The Cy Twombly Foundation, The David Teiger Foundation, The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, Imperfect Family Foundation, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, The Willem de Kooning Foundation, The Danielson Foundation, The Fox Aarons Foundation, Herman Goldman Foundation, The Destina Foundation, The Luce Foundation, May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, The Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, VIA Art Fund, Arison Arts Foundation, The Chicago Community Fund, The David Rockefeller Fund, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, The Jill and Peter Kraus Foundation, The Richard Pousette-Dart Foundation.

    A black-and-white photograph depicting three men equally distanced from one another. They hold their hands up to the ceiling with their palms out and stand near a floral printed wall.
    Yara in the dojo, c. 1970s. Courtesy the Estate of Milford Graves. [A black-and-white photograph depicting three men equally distanced from one another. They hold their hands up to the ceiling with their palms out and stand near a floral printed wall.]