V≠L
2008 >>

V≠L is a series of works inspired by discussions about mathematical definitions of infinity between Ikeda and Harvard number theorist Benedict Gross since 2008.

In set theory, V denotes the von Neumann universe and L denotes Godel's constructible universe. Their equality or inequality is a disputed point, and the position one chooses to take on whether V=L or V≠L reveals a great deal about one's philosophy of mathematics. If V≠L then not every set of numbers is constructible. The removal of this restriction allows for the inclusion of numbers that are almost beyond the limits of human comprehension. More than just a mathematical equation, this expression inspires contemplation of that which we cannot perceive, which can lead to a transcendent experience of the sublime.

photo: courtesy of Almine Rech Gallery
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
APR 6 - MAY 20, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, London, UK
OCT 20, 2017 - MAR 5, 2018 Centre Pompidou-Metz, Metz, FR
photo: courtesy of Almine Rech Gallery
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
APR 6-9, 2017 SP Arte, Sao Paulo, BR
APR 6 - MAY 20, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, London, UK
photo: courtesy of Almine Rech Gallery
materials pigment on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
APR 6 - MAY 20, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, London, UK
photo: courtesy of Almine Rech Gallery
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
APR 6-9, 2017 SP Arte, Sao Paulo, BR
APR 6 - MAY 20, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, London, UK
NOV 29 - DEC 21, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Paris, FR
© Ryoji Ikeda
materials pigment on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
APR 6 - MAY 20, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, London, UK
photo: Richard-Max Tremblay, courtesy of DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
JUN 14 - NOV 18, 2012 DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montréal, CA (curated by John Zeppetelli)
APR 6-9, 2017 SP Arte, Sao Paulo, BR
APR 6 - MAY 20, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, London, UK
NOV 29 - DEC 21, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Paris, FR
photo: Richard-Max Tremblay, courtesy of DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
JUN 14 - NOV 18, 2012 DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montréal, CA (curated by John Zeppetelli)
photo: Richard-Max Tremblay, courtesy of DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100 x H100 x D10 cm
date | place
JUN 14 - NOV 18, 2012 DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montréal, CA (curated by John Zeppetelli)
photo: Richard-Max Tremblay, courtesy of DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art
photo: Richard-Max Tremblay, courtesy of DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art
materials 16mm film (binary codes of π, e, ø), stainless steel
dimensions dimensions variable (W1000.0 x H7.0 x D7.0 cm)
date | place
JUN 14 - NOV 18, 2012 DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montréal, CA (curated by John Zeppetelli)
APR 6 - MAY 20, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, London, UK
NOV 29 - DEC 21, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Paris, FR
photo: courtesy of Gallery Koyanagi
materials framed 16mm film (binary codes of π, e, ø)
dimensions W92.5 x H6.0 x D2.7 cm
date | place
NOV 11 - DEC 25, 2010 Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo, JP
APR 6 - MAY 20, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Grosvenor Hill, London, UK
NOV 29 - DEC 21, 2017 Almine Rech Gallery, Paris, FR
AUG 10 - NOV 17, 2019 Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, TW
© Ryoji Ikeda

the transcendental is a series for Ikeda’s solo exhibition at Le Laboratoire in Paris 2008.

A transcendental number is mathematically infinite. In the works inspired by this concept, a snapshot of millions of digits taken from a transcendental number are engraved onto a stainless steel panel or printed onto photographic paper.

In the transcendental [nº3], the infinite digits of a transcendental number are generated by a real-time computer program and presented on a display. Visitors will experience a fragment of a transcendental number that knows no end. No two visitors will witness the same fragment, making each visitor’s experience an entirely unique glimpse at infinity’s threshold.

materials LED display, computer, speaker, wooden panels
dimensions W40.0 x H70.0 x D57.5 cm
date | place
APR 22 - JUN 13, 2010 "ARTe SONoro", La Casa Encendida, Madrid, ES
SEP 10 - OCT 16, 2010 French Institute Alliance Française, New York, US
JAN 28 - APR 9, 2012 Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin, DE (curated by Ingrid Buschmann and Gabriele Knapstein)
APR 25 - MAY 25, 2015 "Void: there's nothing more left, but a little trace from human being", Ginkgo Space, Beijing, CN
credits

concept, composition: Ryoji Ikeda
computer graphics, programming: Tomonaga Tokuyama

photo: Ryuichi Maruo
photo: Ryuichi Maruo
photo: Ryuichi Maruo
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm each (total 10 pieces)
date | place
APR 2 - JUN 21, 2009 Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, JP
JAN 28 - APR 9, 2012 Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin, DE (curated by Ingrid Buschmann and Gabriele Knapstein)
photo: courtesy of Gallery Koyanagi
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
NOV 11 - DEC 25, 2010 Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo, JP
JAN 5-13, 2021 Japan Media Arts Festival in Kyoto, The Museum of Kyoto, Kyoto, JP
photo: Ryuichi Maruo
materials stainless steel etching, wooden plinth
dimensions W100.0 x H70.0 x D100.0 cm
date | place
JAN 28 - APR 9, 2012 Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin, DE (curated by Ingrid Buschmann and Gabriele Knapstein)
photo: Ryuichi Maruo
materials stainless steel etching, wooden plinth
dimensions W100.0 x H70.0 x D100.0 cm
date | place
APR 2 - JUN 21, 2009 Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, JP (curated by Yuko Hasegawa)
SEP 10 - OCT 16, 2010 French Institute Alliance Française, New York, US
JUN 14 - NOV 18, 2012 DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montréal, CA (curated by John Zeppetelli)
photo: Ryuichi Maruo
photo: Ryuichi Maruo
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
APR 2 - JUN 21, 2009 Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, JP (curated by Yuko Hasegawa)
SEP 10 - OCT 16, 2010 French Institute Alliance Française, New York, US
JUN 14 - NOV 18, 2012 DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montréal, CA (curated by John Zeppetelli)
photo: courtesy of Gallery Koyanagi
materials pigment print on paper, aluminum support
dimensions W100.0 x H100.0 x D10.0 cm
date | place
NOV 11 - DEC 25, 2010 Gallery Koyanagi, Tokyo, JP
photo: Marc Domage
photo: Marc Domage
materials pigment print on paper, wood & steel support
dimensions W110.0 x H35.0 x D500.0 cm
date | place
OCT 11, 2008 - JAN 12, 2009 Le Laboratoire, Paris, FR (curated by Caroline Naphegyi)
credits

concept, composition: Ryoji Ikeda
commissioned by Le Laboratoire, 2008

photo: Marc Domage
photo: Marc Domage
materials pigment print on paper, wood & steel support
dimensions W110.0 x H35.0 x D500.0 cm
date | place
OCT 11, 2008 - JAN 12, 2009 Le Laboratoire, Paris, FR (curated by Caroline Naphegyi)
credits

concept, composition: Ryoji Ikeda
commissioned by Le Laboratoire, 2008

photo: Marc Domage
materials fluorescent lamps, wooden walls
dimensions dimensions variable
date | place
OCT 11, 2008 - JAN 12, 2009 Le Laboratoire, Paris, FR (curated by Caroline Naphegyi)
JUN 14 - NOV 18, 2012 DHC/ART Foundation for Contemporary Art, Montréal, CA (curated by John Zeppetelli)
MAY 20 - SEP 18, 2021 180 Studios, 180 The Strand, London, UK
© Ryoji Ikeda

author/ text: David Edwards, Caroline Naphegyi, Ryoji Ikeda, Benedict Gross, Andrei Rodin, Suelin Chen, Anne Picq
publication editors: Xavier Barral, Ryoji Ikeda, Caroline Naphegyi
translation: Maurice Salem, Jean-Yves Cotté, Caroline Taylor Bouché
copy editor: Marie-Claude Moure, Michèle Pierret
photo credit: Marc Domage
graphic design and production: Atalante-Paris / Elamine Maecha
photo engraving: Les Artisans du Regard
printing: Deux-Ponts, France
pages: 120
binding: hardback
illustrations: 9 photo plates
language: french
price: €82.00
ISBN: 9782915173437
features: plexiglass case
order online: Le LaboShop

dimensions 22.0 x 16.5 x 3.3 cm
date | publisher
DEC 1, 2008 Éditions Xavier Barral, FR