Makiko Tanaka
Duo / Pink Sun

《Pink Moon》
46.3×37.5cm, Oil on Canvas, 2023

20 May Sat. − 9 Jun.Fri.2023

Imura Art Gallery is pleased to present Duo / Pink Sun, a solo exhibition by France-based Japanese artist Makiko Tanaka.

After graduating from Joshibi College of Art and Design, Tanaka moved to France in 2013 on an overseas study program organized by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, and since then she has worked mainly in France and Japan. In this exhibition, she will present new works—mainly oil paintings depicting two girls—based on the theme of "duo," which is reflected in the title of the exhibition.

The word “duo” derives from the Greek word δύο (dio), which means two. One plus one equals two, and a duo, comprising two things or two people, is the smallest relationship. “Pink sun” comes from the pink sunsets that Tanaka often witnesses in France, where she lives. This seems to be a phenomenon that is caused by a certain balance of humidity and light wavelengths, and Tanaka feels that in human relationships, a relationship between two people has the power to change the scenery around them according to their wavelengths and biorhythms. The artist explains that it’s only natural that being in the company of even one other person—whether it’s a friend, a lover, a stranger sharing a bench, a family member, or a passer-by—can change the scenery and humidity, and in this vein, she paints these sorts of natural wonders commingled with French skies.

While the two girls on this canvas are aware of each other, they each exist as individuals. But the two of them are portrayed as pulling close together in a shared world of their own. This exhibition presents Makiko Tanaka’s latest works, painted with rich colors reminiscent of modern French paintings.

Kasuke Kishi Exhibition

6 Jun.Tue.- 11 Jun.Sun.2023

Yasuko Hasegawa Exhibition

13 Jun.Tue.- 18 Jun.Sun.2023

Keiko Imamura Exhibition

20 Jun.Tue.- 25 Jun.Sun.2023

showcase#11
“Definitely Local”
curated by minoru shimizu
ARTISTS : IKUSHUN

untitled　2023
© IKUSHUN

14 Apr.Fri.- 14 May Sun.2023
open on fri., sat., & sun. 12:00-18:00
weekday appointments are available

eN arts is pleased to announce its annual Showcase Exhibition curated by Mr.Minoru Shimizu is opening on April 14, 2023. Focused on photography and videos,this year’s artist for “Showcase #11 ‘Definitely Local” is Ikushun.

Ikushun’s basic approach is to use a digital camera to take pictures of “scenes in life” and just “scenes fun or interesting to photograph”. Thus,Ikushun doesn’t have a particular artist statement nor a particular abstract concept. Rather, the focus is on a subject’s state of action: “moving/in motion.” Predicting the movement of the subject and then preserving that exquisite instant of action is what makes these works of art in my mind. Ikushun’s photographs are scenes that we overlook in our daily lives, so what the artists calls “taking pictures normally” may not be normal for most ordinary people.

This exhibition features over 300 individual photographic works. In the first exhibition room, Ikushun collected photos taken during some trips to China, including Shanghai and Chongqing. In the second exhibition room, there are works taken at Ikushun’s favorite shops near his home, on the way to his friend’s house, on the way to the rugby field, in the neighborhood of his parents’ home, and similar places of his daily life. We will also present a video work (about 30 minutes) that connects short videos, each between10 seconds to 2 minutes, taken with a smartphone or digital camera in Black Cube in the basement exhibition room. Please enjoy each and every photo from corner to corner, being careful to look for stories hidden in the works and everyday events that seem to be seen but are not actually obvious at first.
We are looking forward to your visit to eN arts

Please note that eN arts is also participating in KYOTOGRAPHIE 2023 KG+, which will be held from April 14, 2023.

showcase #11 “Definitely Local” curated by minoru shimizu

Ikushun is back.

Ikushun (1980- ) won honorable mention in the Canon New Cosmos of Photography competitions in 2009 and 2011, appeared in showcase #2 in 2013, and garnered attention once again in 2015 with the photo book “Desuyone (Seigensha)”. However, subsequent to these successes, he only sporadically posted daily photos on his blog and had no opportunity to publish anything major, and so eight years passed silently without him. Looking at the recent works posted on his blog, I easily recognized that he still has the power to bring both pleasure and dissatisfaction at the same time in his works, so I contacted him for the first time in several years and he kindly agreed to participate in showcase #11.

Ikushun’s photographs take the so-called street snap style. They without doubt reflect the “decisive moment” and display elements of “Thomasson” or “VOW photography”, but his works will never be the same. Like a fullback reading the individual movements of the players scattered on a square rugby field, he observes every corner of the square frame that “cuts out” the world, reads the next moment and presses the shutter, and uses various subjects in a fashion similar to Garry Winogrand , but Ikushin never uses the tilt (tilting the camera) that Winogrand used so much , are in contrast to the sharp class and racial disparities that Winogrand’s photos sometimes show, and Ikushun’s photographs persistently and tirelessly capture the small weaknesses and cracks in the flat everyday world of Japan. In those weaknesses and fissures, it’s not that the real world that is usually hidden appears. Ikushun’s photographs only reflect the fact that the world is always has weaknesses and gaps.

Minoru Shimizu

Yoko Fujitomo Exhibition

30 May Tue.– 10 Jun Sat.2023

THE GREAT WALL 1963-1970

13 Jun.Tue.– 2 Jul.Sun.2023

SAKAMOTO,Yuko

27 May Sat.– 11 Jun.Sun. 2023

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
Slow Culture #kogei

Shota Suzuki

Akane Saijyo

Yuki Tsunoda

22 Apr.Sat.- 25 June Sun.2023

Curated by
Kyoto City University of Arts Art Gallery @KCUA
Organized by
Kyoto City University of Arts

AKI KURODA
NEO SELF-PORTRAIT

Aki Kuroda
"Neo Self- Portrait"
2023,
194×130.3cm,
acrylic on canvas

8 Apr.Sat.– 21 May Sun.2023
opening reception: 4.8(Sat) 15:00 –17:30

〈1・2 F〉
“17seasons“ Exhibition

6 June Tue.– 11 June Sun.2023

〈1 F〉
KIMURA Masatsune Exhibition

13 June Tue.– 18 June Sun.2023

〈2 F〉
SHIMIZU Yasuko Exhibition

13 June Tue.– 18 June Sun.2023

〈1 F〉
TORIUMI Taro Exhibition

20 June Tue.– 25 June Sun.2023

〈2 F〉
KOYAMA Takeo Exhibition

20 June Tue.– 25 June Sun.2023

〈Back Yard〉
Etoh Kaoru

10 Jan Tue.– 25 June.Sun.2023

New Mutation #5
KURASHIKI Aya,NISHIMURA Ryo,
“Trsns-communicating”

KURASHIKI Aya

NISHIMURA Ryo,
Photo:HANATO Mai

Residency：20 May Sat.- 23 June Fri.2023
Exhibition: 24 June Sat.- 30 July Sun.2023

Sakaguchi Kana・Futatsugi Shiori
The Journey Through Everyday View

3 Jun.Sat.- 25 Jun.Sun.2023

Permanent Exhibition

Inquiries about exhibitions and works:
GALLERY TOMO

AKASAKA Yuka solo exhibition
in the light

3 Jun.Sat.- 11 Jun.Sun.2023

AKAKASA Yuka (b.1994,Kyoto,lives and works in Kyoto) is purely and colorful painter / sculpter.
She expresses a fun world she felt in her childhood.
She earned her master's degree in a painting course at Kyoto Seika University.

YAMAMOTO Sayuri solo exhibiton
flickering dust

13 Jun.Tue.- 18 Jun.Sun.2023

YAMAMOTO Sayuri (b.1994, Mie pref, lives and works in Kyoto) is an artist who creates poetic and serene works using trash from her own life as materials.
She earned her master's degree in a textile course at Kyoto city University of the Arts.

MIYAKE Yuki solo exhibition
cloth soaked in Myrrh

20 Jun.Tue.- 25 Jun.Sun.2023

MIYAKE Yuki (b.1994, OKAYAMA, lives and works in Shiga) is a painting artist who expresses a scene in his memory only.
Her work has both vague and realistic side.
She graduated from the painting course at Seian University of Art and design.

〈1F〉
YOSHIOKA Sachi Exhibition

6 Jun.Tue.– 11 Jun.Sun.2023

〈2F〉
SEKI Tomomichi Exhibition

6 Jun.Tue.– 11 Jun.Sun.2023

〈1F〉
YAMAMOTO Shin Exhibition

13 Jun.Tue.– 18 Jun.Sun.2023

〈2F〉
NAGIRA Atsushi Exhibition

13 Jun.Tue.– 18 Jun.Sun.2023

Masako YASUKI Exhibition

4 May Fri.– 28 May Sun. 2023

Anna Hayat・Slava Pirsky
Sunflower

Sunflower
2022
Polaroid photography, print on canvas,
embroidered with threads, paper
72 x 54 cm

30 Apr.Sun.− 14 May Sun.2023

Jennifer Lee
: ceramics ＆ drawings

《Pale, speckled traces, speckled olive, tilted shelf》
2022, Ceramic,
H35.1 × W18.4 × D18.1 cm

11 May Thu.– 26 July Wed. 2023

Sokyo Gallery is pleased to present "Jennifer Lee: ceramics and drawings." This will be her third solo exhibition at Sokyo Gallery, following shows in 2015 and 2018. She won the LOEWE Craft Prize in 2018 bringing her greater international recognition and acclaim. In 2021 she was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contribution to ceramics, this further expanded her reputation as one of Britain's leading ceramic artists, following Lucie Rie and Hans Coper.

Lee’s ceramics with their subtle colored areas and refined classic shapes are produced not through wheel throwing and glazing. She has searched widely for different clays and natural clay deposits, aging the clays over many years, and skillfully through long trial and error, added various metal oxide colorants to clays which are worked and then shaped together.Lee’spieces while retaining their functionality convey great sculptural serenity and dignity. Each piece has unique and complex graduations of lighter and darker colored areas. Her surfaces are slightly textured. Impeccably balanced, there is also a strong impression of an almost precipitous abyss, in the elegant line movement created by the edges where different colored clays fuse together, or in the sharply angled vessel mouths. Lee says that each firing allows her to capture a unique moment but also gives her work universality. Her drawings, which are made after each piece is created, serve as a record of the work, and lead the viewer into a world of contemplation by retaining memories of the creation process.

Since her first visit to Japan in 1994, she has been deeply involved with Japan, exhibiting in “U-Tsu- Wa” at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT (2009), participating in the Sasama International Ceramic Art Festival (2013), undertaking multiple art residencies at Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park (2014, 2015, 2018), and Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art (2019). Her works are unglazed; rather, she mixes clays with metal oxides to create subtly contrasting bands of color in her elegantly balanced forms. This exhibition is her first show in Japan for five years and will feature ten hand-built vessels, twenty yunomi, a slab and five drawings. We hope you will take this opportunity to visit the exhibition.