|
|---|
In July, NYCoo Gallery presents a three-man show of two dimensional works by Eiji Matsukubo, Kotatsu Iwata, and Takayoshi Ueda. Entitled "San Coo Ten" or literally 'three,' 'coo' (the name of the gallery and also the homonym for the word space in Japanese, 'ten' meaning exhibition. This threesome was formed by sheer chance without any correspondence between the artists. Their motivations, imaginations, processes and goals are varied. The juxtaposition of their works can not be imagined until the works are brought into the space. Despite the obvious differences, there are some common denominators. If so, what could that be? Or, do the works of the three artists repel one another creating a triangular relationship at NYCoo reflecting the title of the show. This promises to be exciting. The processes and goals of the artists are distinct and contrasting, as are their backgrounds of inclination toward art. The eldest, Matsukubo attended Tama Art University for his undergraduate and graduate degrees and came to New York in the middle of the eighties. He persistently seeks for his identity and originalscape, or his first visual memory which becomes the basis for his abstract paintings. Iwata was drawn to music after high school and making flyers for live music events created a segway into design. He attended and graduated design school and worked for two years in Osaka and subsequently five in Tokyo during which time his learned of Pop Art and began to paint. In 2004, he came to New York to concentrate on his art. His work has graphic art elements consisting of several structural layers with clear and distinct colors resulting in rich painterly effects. Ueda graduated from Kyoto Seika University majoring in oil painting and lives in Wakayama Prefecture. He scans his collages, monotypes, mixed media works to create digitized data which he processes using Photoshop, then prints using a water-based ink-jet printer. He insists that his goal is not to search for a new artistic medium, but traditional painting expression. Despite the intention to write about the artists' differences, their similarities have become apparent. That is, each of them in their own way are exploring contemporary painting possibilities. These three artist are the winners of NYCoo Gallery's competition last year, the award being the opportunity to exhibit in the gallery space. I encourage you to attend the artists' reception, to see the paintings and to celebrate their expressions. Join an active discussion of the works.
|
|||
Gallery writer: Hitoshi Nakazato |
|||
