Preview: “Spiral of Emotions” by Kazuki Takamatsu at CHG Circa

Japanese artist Kazuki Takamatsu (featured in Hi-Fructose Vol. 16) has a new solo show opening at CHG Circa on June 21st, “Spiral of Emotions”. The show’s title epitomizes the ghostly spiraling layers in Takamatsu’s handpainted figures that look like 3D graphics. He will exhibit twelve new gouache paintings exploring the emotional disconnect between the old and adolescent generations of Japan. These compositions may be precisely designed with a digital technique called Depth Mapping, but the final result captures feelings that cannot be planned. For his debut exhibition with Corey Helford last year, “Japanese Ideology of Puberty”, Takamatsu infused elements of Japanese pop culture and fantasy that are further employed here. His new subjects appear "lost" and floating through ethereal visions of death, spirituality, and an uncertain future. See more after the jump!

Japanese artist Kazuki Takamatsu (featured in Hi-Fructose Vol. 16) has a new solo show opening at CHG Circa on June 21st, “Spiral of Emotions”. The show’s title epitomizes the ghostly spiraling layers in Takamatsu’s handpainted figures that look like 3D graphics. He will exhibit twelve new gouache paintings exploring the emotional disconnect between the old and adolescent generations of Japan. These compositions may be precisely designed with a digital technique called Depth Mapping, but the final result captures feelings that cannot be planned. For his debut exhibition with Corey Helford last year, “Japanese Ideology of Puberty”, Takamatsu infused elements of Japanese pop culture and fantasy that are further employed here. His new subjects appear “lost” and floating through ethereal visions of death, spirituality, and an uncertain future.

Topics

chg circa, Japanese art, Kazuki Takamatsu, Preview

digital art, Hi, Japanese art, Millennial, 非

May 30, 2014

Japanese artist 非 (meaning “Hi”) first caught our attention in 2012 with his mysterious tumblr of digital illustrations that look like oils. Hi’s portraits of young men, often depicted with a pained expression, are a unique blend of creepiness and happy colors. For writing purposes, we can only guess “his” gender, because Hi keeps his real name, sex and age a secret. Hi intentionally doesn’t sell his works nor does he exhibit in a gallery. What we do know is that Hi is a young artist representing the internet generation, millennials using it for creative tools, inspiration, and reaching audiences on a socially global level. Take a look at Hi's new work after the jump.

Otherworldly Mixed Media Works by Japanese Artist Atsuko Goto

Atsuko Goto, fairytales, Izanami-no-Mikoto, Japanese art, Shinto

January 30, 2015

The materials of Atsuko Goto's otherworldy paintings are as intriguing as her subject matter. Her pigments are made from semi-precious Lapis-lazuli and gum arabic, which helps her create her hazy, subdued palette. While decidedly dark, there is a softness in her portrayal of ethereal beauties, loosely based on Izanami-no-Mikoto or the goddess of creation and death.

Takuma Onoda’s “Cyber Idol” Paintings Trick the Eye

Depth Mapping, Hatsune Miku, Japanese Anime, Kazuki Takamatsu, Takuma Onoda

November 8, 2014

"People are always seeking what they believe," young Japanese artist Takuma Onoda writes at his website. Being in Japan, he lives in a world with a shared reverence for traditional religion and pop-up culture icons like Hatsune Miku, or his city's mascot, "Sento-kun". He combines these contradicting ideas of idol worship into handpainted portraits of "Cyber Idols" that look three dimensional.

Yoskay Yamamoto’s New Series Draws Upon Traditional Americana Signage

americana, Giant Robot, Honolulu Art Museum, Japanese art, Yoskay Yamamoto

June 15, 2015

The characters in Yoskay Yamamoto's paintings are often portrayed submerged in water. With eyes half-closed and a serene expression on their faces, they seem at peace in the cool blue seas painted from the artist's dreams. The concept of being submerged, for Yamamoto, represents his place between cultures as a Japanese artist living in America. His ocean possesses a strong physical and emotional power because of this. It's waters contain new elements in his latest series of 12 paintings, debuting on Friday at the Honolulu Museum of Art's Contempo #ArtShop, curated by Giant Robot.

Preview: “Spiral of Emotions” by Kazuki Takamatsu at CHG Circa

New Portraits by “Hi” are Lonely, Together

Otherworldly Mixed Media Works by Japanese Artist Atsuko Goto

Takuma Onoda’s “Cyber Idol” Paintings Trick the Eye

Yoskay Yamamoto’s New Series Draws Upon Traditional Americana Signage

Subscribe to the Hi-Fructose Mailing List

Follow us on our social networks

Shop

Subscribe

Subscribe to the Hi-Fructose Mailing List