Liquid Languages: Yuko Mohri: Found Materials

Liquid Languages: Yuko Mohri: Found Materials is a pre-and-post-exhibition learning resource from the Biennale of Sydney’s exhibition rīvus. This resource enables students to connect with Adelaide Contemporary Experiemental’s exhibition A river that flows both ways: Selected works from the 23rd Biennale of Sydney: rīvus.

In this video, you will meet Yuko Mohri, a Tokyo-based installation artist. Her kinetic sculptures use reconfigured everyday objects and machine parts to highlight various facets coming from the encounter between objects and invisible energies such as magnetism, gravity, wind, or light. She also shows a series of photographs titled Moré Moré Tokyo (Leaky Tokyo) : Fieldwork (2009–2021), featuring makeshift water repairs found at train and subway stations across metropolitan Tokyo. Mohri began the series in 2009, when she noticed how station agents were creatively combining everyday objects and materials such as umbrellas, bags, water bottles, buckets, and plastic sheeting to redirect the flow of groundwater leaking through the municipal infrastructure.  

Download the presentation: 50 Years of Found Material

Download the exercise: Repair the Drip

About Liquid Languages

Liquid Languages: Yuko Mohri: Found Materials is part of the Liquid Languages learning resource series from the Biennale of Sydney’s exhibition rīvus. Liquid Languages is divided into five key areas of exploration; Found Materials, Sound, New Materials, Mapping and Words. Each area highlights the various ways artists practice and the creative tools they use to communicate with their audiences.  

Liquid Languages embraces student-led learning and action-based research, creation and play. Students are empowered to work collaboratively and to experiment and play with different materials as they map the water stories of their local environments. Download Repair the Drip to explore and engage with Mohri's art practice.

Mirroring the collective processes of José Roca, Artistic Director, 23rd Biennale of Sydney and the Curatorium, students will be supported in the negotiation of the diverse interests of their peers, through the creation of interdisciplinary projects that imbue the essence of rīvus.

Words: Clare Milledge  
Sound: Haines & Hinterding
Mapping: D Harding 
Found Materials: Yuko Mohri  


Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous assistance from The Japan Foundation, Sydney

ACE tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka panpapanpalyarninthi (inparrinthi). Kaurna miyurna yaitya mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlu tampnthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.

ACE tampinthi, ngadlu Kaurna yartangka panpapanpalyarninthi (inparrinthi). Kaurna miyurna yaitya mathanya Wama Tarntanyaku. Parnaku yailtya, parnaku tapa purruna, parnaku yarta ngadlu tampnthi. Yalaka Kaurna miyurna itu yailtya, tapa purruna, yarta kuma puru martinthi, puru warri-apinthi, puru tangka martulayinthi.

ACE respectfully acknowledges the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.