K azum asa HIWASA. Oil painting

Transcription

1 K azum asa HIWASA Oil painting

2 From Denying the Concept of Space: 100:0 Ratio of Super Symmetry Kazumasa HIWASA has created a world of perfect minimal beauty, exploring a concept of zero that shares commonalities with everyone from the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates to the brilliant Japanese painter Jakuchi Ito ( ) and ukiyo-e artist Sharaku (late 1700s). In 2015, with the backing of affiliated government bodies, HIWASA held an exhibition at the Saint-Germain-des- Prés, recognized as an artist with the skills and inner character to represent the friendship between Japan and France. Eric Monsaingeon (Ecole de Louvre professor) and James Horton (chair of the Royal Society of British Artists) highly praised the pieces upon viewing them. For the series in the exhibition, entitled "From Denying the Concept of Space: 100:0 Ratio of Super Symmetry", images are divided in two with a straight line. Each piece has a different surface size, with different areas painted red, blue, yellow, and green. Though a simple two-dimensional canvas, you can feel a sense of expanding, multi-dimensional space. With this exhibition, HIWASA displays concepts from both Eastern and Western painting, showing a deep affection for modern abstract European art from the likes of Mark Rothko, Mondrian, and Clement Greenberg, and combining this with Japanese aesthetic senses such as empty space and refined melancholy.

3 Profile 1949: Born in Kagawa Prefecture. 1964: Studies at Tachibi Bijutsu Gakuen in Tokyo. 1984: Joins as member of Tobikai (Nagoya) 1993: Wins Alan C. Meyer Award 2000: Wins Riccardo Amadi Award 2002: Solo exhibition in New York City 2009: Exhibits at Art Santa Fe 2011: Exhibits at Shanghai Art Fair 2012: Exhibits at Berliner Liste Fair for Contemporary Art 2014: Exhibits at Art International Zurich 2015: Solo exhibition in Tokyo 2016: Solo exhibition held at Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris (Venue: Galerie Etienne de Causans) February 2017: Solo exhibition in birthplace of Kagawa Prefecture (Venue: Takamatsu Municipal Museum) May 2017: Solo exhibition in New York (Venue: Rogue Space, Chelsea) Present: Remodeling and reopening of Atelier Zero in Kagawa Prefecture. The space is open to the general public, and is visited by many art fans from around the world. Kazumasa HIWASA s Hometown Kagawa Prefecture

4 I. The Natural Features and Sightseeing Spots of Kagawa Kagawa Prefecture is the smallest prefecture in Japan, located on the northeastern part of the island of Shikoku, which faces the Seto Inland Sea. Featuring a rich natural environment and a convenient, compact city, the area is known for being safe, with few natural disasters. The area boasts remarkable views of The Great Seto Bridge stretching over the sea from the opposite shores of Okayama Prefecture. In addition, there are magnificent natural attractions to enjoy, with Kinrin Park chosen as one of the 100 best beaches in Japan, and incredible views from the ropeway at Kankakei, which boasts two million years of history. A holy route known as the 88 Temple Pilgrimage passes through Kagawa Prefecture Because of this, there are many famous, shrines, and historical heritage sites that are worth a visit. Among these sites are Kotohiragu Shrine (commonly known as Konpira-san), Marukame-jo Castle (counted as one of Japans 100 most famous), and Zentsuji Temple (known as the birthplace of the monk Kukai). In addition, you can watch the traditional lion dance, along with ceremonies passed down from long ago, at the Kukai Festival held every November at Zentsuji Temple.

5 II. The Arts and Culture of Kagawa Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Kagawa Prefecture has long been open to trade, which has made the area receptive to new technologies and materials from other areas. Artisans with a curious temperament would research and arrange these imports, and developed many of their own unique crafts. One of the most famous is the Kagawa lacquerware style known as "zokokunuri". This original craft is unlike that of any other region, and the smooth surface and beautiful lines are highly unusual for lacquerware. In the Edo period, Marugame fans were a highly popular souvenir when visiting Kotohiragu Shrine. They still accent the lives of Japanese today, and are made in a wide variety of designs. As the hometown of the scholar Gennai Hiraga, Kagawa Prefecture is popularly known as a region for education, boasting a large number of politicians, intellectuals, artists and other talented people who are active both in Japan and overseas. The town works together to promote the culture, and is overflowing with many notable art areas. Be sure to check Benesse Art Site Naoshima (an art museum that spans an entire island), the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum (built by a world-famous architect), the Takamatsu Municipal Museum (collects many works from Kagawa artists), and the Setouchi Triennale (held every three years).