exhibition 6 katsuyuki shirako

'

exhibition 6
katsuyuki shirako solo exhibition
2015.09.04 (fri.)—09.27 (sun.)
open on fri., sat., & sun. 12:00 – 18:00
opening reception : 09.04 (fri.) 18:00 – 20:00
weekday appointments available

eN arts will participate in “Nuit Blanche” : 10.03 (sat.) 14:00 – 22:00 http://www.nuitblanche.jp/en/
My works in, of themselves, do not possess particular meaning. Rather, they simply exist, incorporating
multiple impressions from my mind. This exhibit is focused on impressions that incorporate gentle, delicate
light, from which one can feel elusive subtle strengths. Katsuyuki Shirako
Flower petals, leaves, plant stalks, bird feathers, deer antlers, – as if clouds in the sky or moss on the ground spreading
… Katsuyuki Shirako’s works originate simple natural splendor, incorporating motifs built upon the interweaving
found in nature’s beauty. These motifs are filtered through Shirako’s unique aesthetic sense, refined in his original
designs, and painstakingly shaped from a mass of wood. In this way, his works move from a two-dimension world of
line drawings to three-dimensional forms, to which color, texture, equilibrium and even their shadows are carefully
considered before the application of lacquer and natural pigments to complete the works.
In this exhibit, Shirako presents new works with such elegance and beauty that would take your breath away. The
show will include six new works that expand beyond the “Lines” of his SCRIBBLE series by selectively over-polishing
the lacquer to expose its multiple layers to the viewer, thereby successfully creating a “Surface” element to add
contrast to the “Lines”. Five new works in his SCRIBBLE series using, for the first time, gold leaf will be on display.
Shirako is also presenting, after a long hiatus, two new works from his SCATTER series. Please enjoy the exhibit.
eN arts | Naomi Rowe

2015.03.01 (Sun.)̶03.29 (Sun.)
open on Fri., Sat., & Sun. 12:00 ‒ 18:00
opening reception : 03.01 (Sun.) 18:00 ‒ 20:00
appointments are available on weekdays

STABILIZATION 3

'

STABILIZATION keisuke matsuda solo exhibition

'

My principle feeling when I transform the reality of my life into a painting is how
fortunate it is that I can “see” the world so easily. The sensations from the
reality around me, the images from thoughts and words, the feel of my paint
brushes, the feeling inside me as I am painting, and the sense from the completed
paintings etc. I believe that it is possible to connect such moments of my life and
such senses into one painting.
Keisuke Matsuda
Keisuke Matsuda paints “the reality of his life” that appears to him with powerful
brush strokes and unique color combinations. He sees his works as
representational painting, not abstract painting. Observers may be perplexed,
even alarmed, by the unconventional world view in his paintings. His works,
however, will remain fixed their observers’ minds.
Naomi Rowe | eN arts

2015.01.09 (Fri.)̶01.31 (Sat.)
open on Fri., Sat., & Sun. 12:00 ‒ 18:00
opening reception : 01.10 (Sat.) 18:00 ‒ 20:00
appointments are available on weekdays

Flash ⇆ Infinity Misato Kurimune Solo Exhibition03

'

Flash ⇆ Infinity Misato Kurimune Solo Exhibition02

'

Flash ⇆ Infinity Misato Kurimune Solo Exhibition01

'

I create works of art as a means to question the essential elements of time, existence, life and beauty or as an
approach to awaken the imagination and the memories of them.
I first print monochrome images onto fabric and washi paper. Then, I paint lines on them using materials such as a
foundation cream, a piece of leaf silver, and ashes, which I select depending on the motifs of the images.
Recently, I have been working with crystal glass and photographs that are painted like a painting, combined into a
single installation work.
Misato Kurimune
The first exhibition of 2015 at eN arts is “Flash Infinity”, a solo exhibition by Misato Kurimune. This artist
makes “stillness” (photographs) and “motion” (drawing) coexist by combining carefully selected materials
with digital images she photographs herself in order to reflect on existence, time, and even the origin of
life. So far, she has created three series: COMPLEX, CRUSHED, CONDOLENCE (please refer to her
website for details: http://www.misatokurimune.com)
We are pleased to present Ms. Kurimune’s new series, FLASH, in this exhibition. In this series, she
expresses the transient beauty of blooming flowers as well as the immortality of silver leaf, trying to
capture time just as one would with a single a shutter release. We hope you will enjoy comings and goin
gs in between “FLASH” and “INFINITY” as time flows nature…”birth of life—maturity—decay—recycle”
Naomi Rowe | eN arts

2014.12.05 (Fri.)̶12.28 (Sun.)
open on Fri., Sat., & Sun. 12:00 ‒ 18:00
opening reception : 12.05 (Fri.) 18:00 ‒ 20:00
appointments are available on weekdays

exhibition 5 Katsuyuki Shirako Solo Exhibition

'

exhibition 4 katsuyuki shirako solo exhibition

'

My works do not possess any specific meaning. They simply exist, suggesting multiple
images.
Katsuyuki Shirako
Shirako completes his breathtakingly beautiful works by meticulously applying materials
used in traditional Japanese art, including Japanese lacquer, natural pigments, and
crushed or powdered shell to create a perfect balance of shape and form within each
sculpture. The starting point to his approach to creating art is very unassuming, making
his works appear simple and minimalistic. His works, however, actually contain
complicated images and various motifs emanating from within himself. This may be the
reason his works spark leaps of imagination from their viewers. The “blank” spaces in his
artworks hold inner strength and can at times trigger poetic thoughts in our mind while at
other times take on the the beauty formed by nature.
We are pleased to present the latest works of “SCRIBBLE” series and “ASSEMBLE”
series. Please enjoy the exhibit.
Yoko Kuwahara | eN arts

press-e.pdfcv-e.pdf

2014.10.03 (Fri.)̶10.31 (Fri.)
open on Fri., Sat., & Sun. 12:00 ‒ 18:00
opening reception & Nuit Blanche : 10.04 (Sat.) 18:00 ‒ 22:00
appointments are available on weekdays

- simultaneity of construction and dismantling – Shingo Tanaka Solo Exhibition

'

“Among all phenomena, fire is the only one element that we can accept two
significances that are diametrically opposite characters, namely fire is the
element that has the good side and the evil side simultaneously. There is the
possibility of the contradiction in itself. That is the reason why it becomes the
universal principle explanation.”
Bachelard, Guston “La Psychanalyse du feu” 1938
In “re:trans” series, I disassemble objects that once had a function and purpose,
including some of my earlier works, and reassemble them into new objects. In the
process of assembling the detritus, which have become pieces that have lost
their meaning and purpose, I apply fire to the new objects to prompt them to
fragment again. The burned materials become tinged in black, melt down or even
break. This transformation makes the object’s surface grotesque, but it also
eN arts 〒605-0073
京都市東山区祇園町北側円山公園内八坂神社北側
www.en-arts.com ¦ info@en-arts.com ¦ 075-525-2355
gives the object a unique appearance, one that never appears in a man-made
object. Also by burning the fragments of materials uniformly, I can create a visual
effect of the pieces seeming to have reconnected into one object again.
We don’t notice of the scraps of wood, the papers that are cut into a thousand
pieces, or the waste that is thrown away. However, they are given shapes and
new attractive manifestation by layer and burning. There is even a chance to
represent uniquely the polar opposite significances: <Dismantlement
(Destruction) ‒ Reconstruction (Creation)> at the same time.
Shingo Tanaka
We are pleased to announce a solo exhibition by Shingo Tanaka who works on
fire in a wide range of method and media, such as a sculpture, a photograph and
a painting. In this exhibition, Tanaka will present new works of his “re:trans”
series and an installation of works from his “trans” series.
In re:trans series, Tanaka dismantles discarded objects, that lost their original
function, into pieces and reconstructs them into a new object. After the
reconstruction, the object is burn by fire. These two different aspects, the partial
disappearance of a substance by combustion (Dismantlement) and the
connecting of the pieces into one object with the trace of the flame
(Construction), reveals the nature and character of the fire, which has two
opposite elements, a good side and an evil side. And in trans series, he represents
the phenomenon “Transformation (trans)” by burning a geometrical shaped
medium. Each series, re:trans and trans, affect to one another and contribute
back to each other. After solo exhibition that was composed with the art works of
re:trans series last year, we will see the new phase in trans series in this
exhibition.
Please enjoy the distinctive world of Shingo Tanaka’s latest works at his solo
exhibition “す あ。 ラ 火 一 見 極 ‒simultaneity of construction and
dismantling-” .
Yoko Kuwahara | eN arts

2014.08.08 (Fri.)̶08.31 (Sun.)
open on Fri., Sat., & Sun. 12:00 ‒ 18:00
opening reception : 08.09 (Sat.) 18:00 ‒ 20:00
appointments are available on weekdays

Darkroom / Ghost Mitsuo Kim Solo Exhibition

'

CONTROL Kim Kwang Nam Solo Exhibition

'

Mitsuo Kim frames everyday scenes by taking photographs and then
transforming them into silkscreens. He prints the images onto the surface of a
wooden panel that is coated with paraffin wax and applies heat to the several
points of the surface. The heat melts the wax causing the melting wax to flow
with silkscreen’s ink. The original ordinary scenes alter their shape into distorted
images that cannot be anticipated.
In this exhibition, Kim will exhibit new works focused on “Light and Shadow” that
use his unique technique. He makes a new attempt to create enigmatic images
that emerge by adding light from the outside of the scanner to the light of
scanning process. We are very pleased to present his latest and sophisticated
works.
eN arts 〒605-0073
京都市東山区祇園町北側円山公園内八坂神社北側
www.en-arts.com ¦ info@en-arts.com ¦ 075-525-2355
Yoko Kuwahara | eN arts
-Darkroom / Ghost
From light a shadow is created.
A shadow is formed as the outline of an object exposed to a light, and also the
existence of the object caught in the light is proved by the shadow.
The world emerges from light. However if the light is too strong, the world may
disappear as well.
1.
Open the scanner’s lid, shine light into the dark closed box.
A totally unexpected image appears.
By flashing light into the scanner’s light, I confuse the scanner.
This is an experiment to visualize a world between one light and another light.
2.
I ponder upon shadows, which are considered the origin of painting.
I would like to exhibit new works focused on “shadows”, a theme about which
many artists have worked.
Mitsuo Kim

press-e.pdfcv-e.pdf

yosuke harada, ryuichi ishikawa, shinichiro uchikura
2014.06.06 (fri.) – 06.29 (sun.)
open on fri., sat., and sun. 12:00-18:00
weekday appointments are available upon request
opening reception on 2014.06.06 (fri.) 18:00-20:00

showcase #3 Ryuichi Ishikawa

'

showcase #3S hinichiro Uchikura

'

showcase #3 Yosuke Harada

'

 
eN arts is pleased to present the third edition of “showcase” curated by
Professor Minoru Shimizu, one of Japan’s most respected contemporary art
critics. “Showcase” is a group exhibition focused on photography and itself
has truly been a showcase for up and coming photographers since 2012. For
“showcase #3”, Professor Shimizu has selected, from the perspective of
“portraits”, three talented photographers, Yosuke Harada, Ryuichi Ishikawa,
Shinichiro Uchikura. I hope the distinctive portraits photographed by these
promising artists will fascinate the audience.
Naomi Rowe
eN arts

showcase #3
“Japanese Portraits”
Few young artists photograph portraits today. There are some, but for
ordinary artists, portraits are little more than the exposure of the subject’s
identity (“Ah, this shows Mr. A’s personality very well.”), an exploration the
subject’s identity (“Oh, we can see the new side of Mr. A”), or an expression of
humanism (“Wow, we sense human dignity through Mr. A”)
In contrast, the few distinguished portrait-photographers focus on
“sameness” not “identity”. The difference is “identity” concerns the subject
(“I” am “me”, not “you”!) while “same” in “sameness” concerns the predicate
state (Being naked, or being sick, or dying, we are the same. You and I are
the same because we both are male or are female. You and I are the same
because we defecate or can become sexually excited.) Thus, the sameness
exists without the framework of the identity of the individual. “Sameness” is
scandalous in a way by crossing the individuals’ borders. Now that we
understand the definitions of “sameness” and “identity” in portrait
photographs, portraits can cause discomfort (Don’t make Me like You) and
touch taboo areas (the father looks at his daughter as a woman.).
We are in the same predicate state in that we are Japanese and living in
Japan. But since the 3.11 Earthquake, we have become more sensitive and
less comfortable being the same as others. We have begun to inquire the
meaning and conditions of being the same. In the very reactive Japanese
society today, we fear that the identity politics of “The Japanese” and “Japan”
are taking over the sameness of “being Japanese” and “living in Japan”.
For “showcase #3” I have selected the photos of three photographers who
capture the sameness in “being Japanese” and “living in Japan” today.

Yosuke Harada (1982-)
cv-j.pdf

Ryuichi Ishikawa (1984-)
cv-j.pdf

Shinichiro Uchikura (1981-)
cv-j.pdf

2014.04.04（SAT.）— 04.27（SUN.）
OPEN ON FRI., SAT., & SUN. 12：00 〜18：00
WEEKDAY APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE
OPENING RECEPTION ON 04.04（FRI.）18：00 〜20：00
We are pleased to present “ eeny, meeny, miny, moe | RED ” a group exhibition of six artists: Tamotsu
Ikeya, Shingo Tanaka, Shunsuke Kano, Keisuke Matsuda, Katsuyuki Shirako, and Masahiro Sekiguchi.

eeny, meeny, miny, moe | red

'

“Colors” play a critical role in the creation of art. Indeed, just a single color, selected out of millions, can
determine the fate of an artwork, for better of for worse. In “eeny, meeny, miny, moe | RED,” the six
artists exhibit their works … created with an assigned color – RED.
We hope this group exhibition challenge the six artists to present what the meaning color RED signifies
to them, to handle the color RED in unique ways, and to make compelling use of the color RED. We
also hope “eeny, meeny, miny, moe | RED” will be fascinating for all of us.
Naomi Rowe | eN arts

SHINGO TANAKA
cv-e.pdf

KATSUYUKI SHIRAKO
cv-e.pdf

KEISUKE MATSUDA
cv-e.pdf

MASAHIRO SEKIGUCH
Icv-e.pdf

SHUNSUKE KANO
cv-e.pdf

Tamotsu Ikeya
cv-e.pdf

2014.02.01 (sat.) – 02.28 (fri.)
open on fri., sat., and sun. 12:00-18:00
weekday appointments are available
opening reception: 18:00-20:00 on February 1st

STABILIZATION keisuke matsuda solo exhibition

'

The reality of my life and my feelings directly connect with my vision. I have been challenging to paint exactly what
come into mind. For this exhibition, I try to stabilize the reality of my life, my expression by oil paints, and the
image I see in mind onto canvas.
Keisuke Matsuda
Born in 1984. Keisuke Matsuda graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts with MFA of oil painting.
In 2009, he won The Jury (Naoki Sato) Award in Art Award Tokyo.
http://www.artawardtokyo.jp/2009/en/about/ http://www.artawardtokyo.jp/2009/en/artists/
In 2013, his work was exhibited at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo after being selected for Tokyo Wonder Wall.

http://www.tokyo-ws.org/english/aboutus/index.html

http://www.mot-art-museum.jp/eng/2013/wonderwall/

Matsuda says that he becomes united with the world surrounding himself when he succeeds in painting or drawing
the images that appear in his mind before they disappear. Over time, his works have progressed in sophistication
and having accomplished expressing these pure images onto canvas. In STANBILIZATION, Matsuda’s fifth solo
exhibition at eN arts, observers will enjoy Mtsuda’s latest paintings in which he stabilizes those pure images with
touches of artistic elements. Matssusa’s bold compositions, powerful and persuasive brushstrokes, and unique color
combinations will remain embedded in observers’ mind. We hope you will enjoy Matsuda’s world.
Naomi Rowe | eN arts
There is a column written about Keisuke Matsuda by Minoru Shimizu, a leading contemporary art critic in Japan.

http://www.art-it.asia/u/admin_ed_contri7/7DFoQXB50rwbgJ9WI6zl/

press-e.pdfcv-e.pdf

2013.10.04 (fri.) – 10.27 (sun.)
open on fri., sat., and sun. 12:00-18:00
weekday appointments are available
opening reception: 18:00-20:00 on October 55h

Silhouettes in Evanescence shingo tanaka’s solo exhibition

'

eN arts participates in Nuit Blanche Kyoto 2013.

http://www.institutfrancais.jp/kansai/fr/events-manager/nuit-blanche-kyoto-2013/

A gallery tour by Shingo Tanaka is scheduled at 20:00-20:30, and we will be open until 22:00 on 10/5.
Silhouettes in Evanescence
Usually, the fire we see is controlled by us – humans. We give it a purpose, and once its role is
accomplished, we extinguish it.
We, humans, focused our energies on developing methods to keep fire under our control. And
ultimately, our way of life stands upon the foundations built from such developments in our history.
The fire I use for my artworks is no exception. The flame that floats upward, or the one that burns
downward, disappears eventually, leaving smoke and ash as the only evidence of its existence. The
sight of this fleeting existence arouses in us calm rather than excitement, still silence rather than
exhilaration.
Fire somehow is intellectual and frail at the same time.
I constantly seek for form within the ephemeral fire.
Shingo Tanaka

press-e.pdfcv-e.pdf