KOSAKU KANECHIKA is pleased to present the exhibition “GROUP SHOW: 6 ARTISTS” from July 16th to August 20th, 2022.
The show presents work by Yutaka Aoki, Junko Oki, Ataru Sato, Chikashi Suzuki, Noritaka Tatehana, and fumiko imano.

Yutaka Aoki uses acrylic paint to create abstract works with substantial impasto to study light and its organic, three-dimensional qualities. Aoki observes light as a multi-faceted element that grants information on the world and is also an indicator of the passage of time. His paintings oscillate between two- and three-dimensionality, and respond not only to materials and production processes, but also to specific elements in their environment, including the relationship with the audience’s gaze, the passage of time, and the conditions of the exhibition space. Light imbues his work with an intrinsic richness, providing a visual experience that awakens the natural human senses desensitized by our increasingly digital lives.

Junko Oki engraves stories of life onto textiles, with each stitch placed meticulously by hand. Without the guide of an underdrawing, she creates unique motifs and patterns by freehand stitching and by rejecting the structured tradition of embroidery. Although her works display seemingly rudimentary techniques, the artist’s instinctive approach awakens a visceral reaction in viewers. Through her unique embroidery and careful attention, Junko Oki breathes new life into aged textiles, frames, and other objects. These objects, with years of stories already embedded into them, are revived by Oki’s hand through a series of attentive stitches. They include everything that came into being, and chronologies that once existed but are now gone. At the core of Oki’s creative process is a discovery of new horizons through layered impressions of time.

Ataru Sato attempts to understand himself, humanity, and the world around him through the act of drawing or painting. Expressing themes such as obsession, fear, and romance through fine – perhaps excessively fine – pencil lines and distinctive brushwork, Sato emphasizes that his works are created for himself. He sees art as being created by people who are alive to express their lived experiences and has no aspiration to create art for art’s sake, art that is novel, or art that seeks to be meaningful. Sato’s images continually propagate, driven by his need to comprehend the indiscernible aspects of life.Born from a core of personal questions, his work is characterized by a powerful energy that penetrates deeply, leaving a lasting impression on its viewers.

Chikashi Suzuki has presented his work in domestic and international magazines, and has been at the forefront of editorial and fashion photography since the 1990s as one of Japan’s leading photographers. A variety of subjects can be found in his portfolio, ranging from the alluring city of Tokyo to flowers, celebrities, and emerging models. Intuitively capturing the candid essence of his subjects, the beauty and wonder of each frame appears to preserve an intimate memory, frozen in time. In contrast to the immediacy of the digital camera, Suzuki explores the palpable richness that is only attainable through film photography.

Noritaka Tatehana presents a never-before-seen perspective and worldview by combining elements of traditional Japanese culture with values of the contemporary world. His carefully honed artistry is elegantly expressed throughout his various mediums. Nurturing the sensitivities of a rich history, mythology, and innovation, Tatehana’s work brims with his potential and hopes for the future. The artist is renowned for his trademark works titled “Heel-less Shoes,” which are inspired by the elevated wooden clogs worn by traditional Japanese courtesans. These works have attracted global recognition since being worn by celebrities including Lady Gaga. To date, Tatehana’s work has been collected by institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

fumiko imano is highly acclaimed for her collaborations in fashion, including photography for LOEWE for eight seasons since 2018, and designing sneakers for VANS using her original artwork. Best known are her series of self-portraits taken with a 35mm camera with the images cut and pasted to create a twin-like motif. Encapsulating an innocently nostalgic and humorous charm that is reminiscent of photographs that might have been taken during a family trip, imano’s self-portraits elicit an instinctive smile from their viewers. In sharp contrast, the distinct lines cut by scissors and joined together attest to the reality of their fictitious nature. Intentionally created by hand in the current digital age, imano’s playful photomontages provide a penetrative insight into the machinations of identity and employ an unconventional visual language to convey new stories.

This group show presents works by six of the gallery’s artists, including an embroidered work by Junko Oki that is being exhibited in Tokyo for the very first time. We are also delighted to introduce Noritaka Tatehana’s “Void Sculpture Series,” which was presented in Kyoto in April for the first time, as well as Ataru Sato’s figurative paintings and a selection of recent works by Yutaka Aoki, Chikashi Suzuki and fumiko imano. At this time, we cordially invite you to attend “6 ARTISTS” at KOSAKU KANECHIKA.