Tag: sculpture

Par Art in the 30th Kyoto Art Festival 2016

1 Comment

Par Art, a private gallery in a renovated machiya (old Japanese house made in the Kyoto style), has started participating in the Kyoto Art Festival in recent years. A few artists who exhibit in the main group are selected for a show here but unlike the Annex and Kokokan, artists can sell their work at Par Art. Wendy Carroll, Deborah Stout, Minoru Masuda, Erika Kusumoto, Tomoko Yokota, and Wataru Kawashima were the lucky artists this year.

Read More

Ceramics, Glass, and Sculpture at the 30th Kyoto Art Festival: International Exhibition of Art 2016

No Comments

Sculpture and ceramics are two areas in which contemporary Japanese artists tend to be strong. In fact, many of the artists in the show that do 3D work are also involved in the annual Nitten show in Tokyo. Their work covers a wide range. The International Exhibition of At at the Annex as part of the 30th Kyoto Art Festival naturally has work by many sculptors, glass artists, and ceramicists.

Read More

Yawarakai (Soft)

No Comments

13091608

After a few mishaps with the trains, I made it to Chiba City to see Masako Otani, owner of Space Galleria. She is one of the coolest people you will ever meet. She also happens to run a small, private gallery on the second floor of a brick building opposite the Chiba City Art Museum. If you blinked, you would probably miss the sign on the sidewalk but you would also miss your chance to see some fine local art. Yes, she rents out the gallery to artists who are willing to pay but she also attracts those who make high-quality of work. It is always a treat to see what is on exhibit here. And unlike larger galleries, the shows are free.

The current show is  Yawarakai or Soft by Noe Takahashi and is held until September 29, 2013. Older work included demon dolls and other delicate figurines, but recent work focuses on animals. Some, like the mouse from the Oriental zodiac were predictable, but others were an enjoyable surprise. Many people collect the animals from the zodiac, so these will hopefully earn her some money to help pay for the show. If interested, the mouse is on sale for 18,000 yen. Contact Space Galleria for more details.

Easter Alice, Easter Nezumi
Easter Alice, Easter Nezumi

Other pieces were straight from Japanese folklore and anime. Children are often told stories about one-eyed monsters, and Takahashi made some that can be worn on your lapel. The small clawlike creatures are available for 2000 yen, and the larger one with the Cyclops stomach is 6000 yen. I have no idea why but the round pieces with eyes are called Close Friends. I do not know where she got the eyes but they are mesmerizing!

Little monsters for sale
Little monsters for sale
Kind Friend
Kind Friend

Some pieces were obviously theatrical, such as the crow mask and purple velvet cape. I do not know if the mask was ever worn in a performance or not, but the mask is designed to be worn. It has several small holes to see where you are going and straps to secure it on your head. The beak is heavy so the mask tips forward when worn, but Takahashi is trying to lighten it somehow. The purple cape is not needed, because this crow mask is gorgeous all by itself!

Crow Mask
Crow Mask

The theatrical nature of the animals reminded me of a show I saw at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in the late Eighties by a local female artist whose name escapes me at the moment. Takahashi’s work, however, is smaller — a common trait of work by many Japanese artists who work and exhibit in cramped spaces.

Poya Poya Meme-chan
Poya Poya Meme-chan Dogs

Unlike the Canadian artist who did many figures in an installation, Takahashi mainly did individual, stand-alone pieces. I could not help but imagine how powerful some pieces, such as the wooden dog or tapir, would be if she used moulds to create ten or more figures to fill a space with an installation. She could use them to create a message and have a larger presence. She is a young artist and will hopefully have a long, successful career ahead of her if she gets some support.

Another Perspective
Another Perspective
Tapir and Dog
Tapir and Dog

Homo-, Hetero-  will be held next  at Space Galleria from October 3-8. (I do not know why the threes are dropping below like lowercase P’s and G’s. ) I assume that Gen Konnno (sic) is showing his latest sculptures but I do not know much more than that. The postcard is not much of a clue either. The wooden figure on the right will not be seen in the gallery. Why not? It got burnt in a fire — and not on purpose either! It ended up as the figure on the left. The burnt figure is powerful, but the two together would have been amazing! The title of the show is also interesting and suggested a dichotomy, but who knows what the actual theme of his show will be? Intriguing nonetheless and worthy of a visit.

13091606

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ningyo Monogatari: Fabled Figurines

No Comments

One of the purposes of this blog is to spread information about what is happening in the art world. Unlike larger urban centres and unlike places in Canada that I am familiar with, news about exhibitions does not travel far in Kyushu or Yamaguchi. My friend introduced me to this teeny tiny artist-run gallery called the THM Gallery near Tobata Station in Kitakyushu. What a gem of a gallery! It is tucked away in a quaint house that has been renovated in an older neighbourhood and is beside  one of the many ubiquitous ramen shops in the area. In North America or Europe, it would probably be near a popular tourist area or a key member or an artistic centre. You can see what it looks like on their website (in Japanese): http://whitelily.or.tv/thm/annai.html.

Gallery THM
Gallery THM

 

One of their up-and-coming shows features dolls and other figurines from private collections. European bisque dolls, dolls made by artists, Kewpie dolls that have been slightly redesigned, beaded doll clothes, carved figurines, and other figures will be on display from February 8 to February 26, 2013.

Advertisement for Artisanal Doll Show
Advertisement for Artisanal Doll Show

If you are wondering about the Kewpie doll, remember that this is Asia. Kewpie dolls are extremely popular here. Large art museums have featured exhibitions on the artwork of their creator whose name I cannot recall right now. They are kawaii (cute but in a very specific, Japanese sense), and that is all that counts. They are often re-appropriated by artists and companies here.

On a personal note, my favourite figure in this ad is the sheep with personality. I was lucky enough to meet the artist (nicknamed Momo-chan) at another show in Yahata.

Anybody  want to play dolls after having some ramen for lunch?