2020年7月10日 [金] - 8月8日 [土] 日月祝休
小山登美夫ギャラリー

July 10 - August 8, 2020 11am-7pm CLOSED: Sun, Mon, National Holidays
TOMIO KOYAMA GALLERY


桑原は1990年代の後半から一貫して、いま住んでいる環境に対する人間の欲望による変化に着目して作品制作をしてきました。
進化、効率、大量生産、加工、洗浄、商品価値を求めるのに伴う破壊、汚染。60、70年代日本高度成長下の幼少期の思い出とともにある様々な変化を、奇妙な生物、ペットとしての動物、おもちゃ、風景、折込チラシの無名の女の子たちや建売住宅のイメージを通して作品にしています。

公害によって汚染された海に現れたアザラシは、そこを新しい生活の場として生き抜き人々に可愛さをまきちらします。可愛いと思う心も人間の欲。その絶望的でもあり、楽園のようでもある世界が桑原の大きな魅力になってます。

本展のタイトル「heavenly peach」は芳香剤のような、何かが終わった後に残っている微かな香りのイメージだと桑原は言います。出展作の「遺品」も、亡くなった人の持物が持ち主がいなくなった後にもぽつんと残っている、その儚げな様子を表しています。　

現代への皮肉や空虚感はありつつも、決してつき放すわけではない。愛情と優しさを込めた眼差しをもって、私たちが見過ごしている世の中の可笑しさを軽妙にすくいとる桑原は、今をどう見ているのでしょうか。次の本展に際してのアーティストステイトメントにも、今回の作品の世界観が現れています。ぜひ桑原の最新作をご覧に、お越しくださいませ。


Tomio Koyama Gallery is pleased to present “heavenly peach,” an exhibition with Masahiko Kuwahara. This marks the artist’s 12th solo presentation with the gallery, and introduces a selection of new works.

Since the latter half of the 1990s, Kuwahara has consistently created works that focus on the changes to the environment in which we live that have been brought about as a result of human desires.

From development, to efficiency, mass production, processing, cleaning, destruction and pollution associated with seeking commercial value, Kuwahara depicts the various changes that accompany his childhood memories of growing up during Japan’s period of economic prosperity in the 1960s and 70s. What is observed in his work are uncanny creatures, animals kept as pets, toys, landscapes, as well as the images of unknown girls and ready-built houses seen on newspaper flyers.

Seals that have appeared in the ocean contaminated by pollution, endure and survive in this new habitat, all the while enticing people with their adorable cuteness. Finding such creatures endearing is also indeed a reflection of human desire. This despairing yet paradise-like world that they convey is one of significant appeals of Kuwahara’s work.

Kuwahara mentions that in the title of the exhibition, “heavenly peach,” he envisions a subtle fragrance like an air freshener of sorts that remains after something has come to an end.

Although suggesting the irony and feelings of fleeting emptiness that permeates our contemporary age, Kuwahara’s works are by no means a blunt refusal of this. He light-heartedly captures thorough a kind and affectionate gaze, the humor within our world that we continue to overlook. How does such an artist view our current circumstances? The statement that the artist has written for the exhibition also reflects his outlook on the world as is depicted in his latest works.

We welcome viewers to enjoy the latest installment of the artist’s oeuvre.