November 21 - 29, 2008

October 17 - 25, 2008

September 19 - 27, 2008

Even in the 21st Century, the traditional technique to draw the real things more beautifully is not lost. If anything, the chance to seeing such a painting is more abundant in daily life. Because the sense of security that might not disturb person's mind is requireed to the decoration in usual life. However, there is no reason to defend the old standard in the expression of art. Because German literature Hans Henny Jahnn says "Even the beautiful thing, the substance is a black of nothingness, a hole pierced by gravitation or an invisible existence for eye and spirit that have seen the contradiction of civilization and the irrational tragedy of war". Therefore, it is not a mirror of the true world though the picture still keeps planarity as of old.
These kind of paintings which are not caught by real world, can be said that they have own spiritual world. Such a painting is exactly what artist Jun Ogata has drawn consistently. A space filled with on color, like black like gross darkness, yellow like tranquil light, green like a dense nature. And a image like a mark of water drop, a shaking flame, a microorganism floating in the water or a twisted human body. Only those two elements are composing a Ogata's screen. Needless to say, the space that does not move and quietly is "Ground" and the image that melts and flows is "Figure".
However, you will feel a some kind of indication filled with deep reverberation from his work which was composed of "Ground" and "Figure". This exhibition is titled "Waon no Kubishi" which are the words not usually used. In my opinion, "Wa" might mean harmony, "On" might mean care and "Kubishi" might mean seriousness and mystery. Therefore, it might be a meaning of the world of spiritual world which was led by his inquiry of the harmony of "Ground" and "Figure". Of course, since "Wa" might mean Japanese style and "On" might mean warmth, it show his characteristic. His work has a deep inspiration like the Oriental painting rather than the Western painting which has depth and composition. It reminds me of an aesthetic sense of the old tanka(syllable Japanese poem) by Noriko Naishinno "A sadness of the dream of deep night does not disappear even if awaking at quiet daybreak".

June 19 - 25, 2008

Georgian artist Mrs.Nino Karumidze and her husband Mr.Zaza Gogua are the Japanophile. They stayed in Japan for long time, but now they went back to their home country, the Republic of Georgia. And she having a solo exhibition in Japan every year.
First of all, better to know about the Republic of Georgia before introducing her works. Georgia, was independed from the Soviet Union, has their original culture but also has the combined elements. Their state religion is the Georgian Orthodox Church which has derived from the Greek Orthodox Church. Georgia is a christian country but having the influence of a lot of other cultures through long history. The meat bun named Hincari is an article left by the deceased of the Mongolian empire. And an almanac of this country is the Gregorian but also has the twelve zodiacal signs. On the other hand, there are many influence of Islam which ruled for a long time. Which can be seen at the construction of the National Opera House or the architectural style of hot springs. In the legend, Georgia is the birthplace of the princess media and the place where Noah's ark landed. The nature and the wine of south Caucasia located at the east of the Black Sea are so famous. Georgian use kartuli ena (Georgian) with Russian. This country located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and lying along the historic Silk Road routes.
These Georgian cultures influence to her works. Her representational paintings with the decoration and the symbolism provide us to the world of various imaginations. Moreover, the soft changes of colors are the feature of her works. Most of her works are having a harmony of the drawn object and the background. Sometimes it plays a piece of music with harmony without a matter of what was drawn. The combined image must be the feature of Georgia where she was born and grown up. Themes of her works are various but the music must be the pillar. "Pianist", "Quartet", "Piano Quintet" and "Concert" are representational but so symbolic works. Also, her works have elements of the humour and the trompe l'oeil (cheat picture). For instance, some children are hiding in the screen of her painting named "Hide & Seek".
In this exhibition, I am interested in which part of her character would be seen, or her new part would be seen. Please enjoy the meeting to her pictures and the conversation with her at this exhibition.

June 06 - 14, 2008

A English poet and critic, Sir Herbert Edward Read(1893-1963) gave the definition to sculpture as his phrase "Sculpture is to replace the meaning from a material to another material". For instance, to build a sculpture is not to trace the shape of woman but to catch the meaning from the shape, when the woman is the material for the work. He is sure to have wanted to say that the sculpture was not a literal translation of shape but a free translation. In that meaning, Hisayuki Mogami is the only one artist should be called "The great translator of shape". His wooden sculpture was not traced the shape of material and not a pure abstraction sculpture either. His works associates us a human's gesture like a man is walking or laying. That has the deep relationship with life and existence, and the feeling might have been translated to many kinds of shapes.
No, it is not only that. His work title was named by the katakana that shows onomatopoeic phonomime. Art critic Yusuke.Nakahara was pointing out that his work title is "Sculpture word that the work speaks". He translates by not only the object but also the word. Therefore, he must be the great master of translator of the life and the existence. Mogami's unique objects and words might be laughing off the authority and power, and might be dislocating the common idea. So, they make us to feel refreshed. However, the world coming after laughter and provocation might be not nothingness but warm. By wooden sculptures, objets and drawings in this exhibition, we are sure to feel the unique morphology made with superb duet of objects and words.
Stone sculpture artist Hidetoshi Takahama, who has been sticking to the motif of water, listens to the words that water speaks. Therefore, I want to call his sculpture "Shape of the water which translated by the stone" on Sir Read's word. What kept him to the subject of water? The answer might be in his own description, "The word of water is a inner voice of the earth". Of course, I will not disregard the environment theory of the earth, the planet of water. However, I want to read "Inner voice of earth" as "Outer voice of human", and receive it as the critical consideration of human supremacy principle in modern culture. Because his works with fragmented shape and combined making are on the other side of uniform human. His humorous shape sculptures with curve and smooth surface are having a fluidity like quick water.

May 09 - 17, 2008

GUTAI art association, the legendary group of avant-garde artists was founded in Kansai after World War II by the guidance of Jiro.Yoshihara. It is a famous episode that Yoshihara who called Mr.Gutai encouraged the young artists to do something which other artist did not do.Also in foreign countries, GUTAI was well known from an early stage.
Chiyu.Uemae is one of the artists who joined the association since it was founded in 1954. Therefore, it was naturally that he should be take part in the favor of the glory. It might have been so in Kansai. However, in Tokyo and other area, the famous artists of GUTAI were Kazuo.Shiraga, Sadamasa.Motonaga, Saburo.Murakami, Shozo.Shimamoto, Akira.Kanayama or Atsuko.Tanaka. In that area, his existence tended to be overlooked.
It might if his work is unfavorably, but his art was not under at all. However, the current of the times chose Shiraga, Motonaga or Murakami than him. Because, they responded to the agitation of Yoshiwara with the unexpected action. On the other hand, Uemae was having a conversation with object and painting silently. In all kind of group, the person must play each role as a movement or quiet, a positive or a shadow or gay or sober, without his intention. People's judgments of an unexpected body expression and an honest search were clear.However, people in Tokyo should learn about Uemae's distinguished services in Japanese art history by this exhibition that exhibits the gem of his masterpiece.
This exhibition exhibits his 1960's painting, 1980's series of stitch and so on. Therefore, people can learn about the transition of his style.The material surface that is the foundation of his work is as important as the variety of development.It is formed with thickly coated oil paints like a Gogh's work, or with the colored natural material like mouth of paint tube or sawdust and so on.He knew the Matiére conceives originality more than anyone. Originality arises from the Matiére which merged the material.

April 10 - 19, 2008

It might be called the disease of the age which soaked with a vast image. Even in the painting, a present concern became only the competition of concept and technology to work out a novel image. However, those kind of paintings just provide the ephemeral pleasures, and would be passed by devotee who has a endless desire of visual sensation. If the painting will become historical, it is necessary to search for the field where competition for image, concept or technology were transcended. To notice it for young painters and their supporters, there is nothing except to touch the works of the painters like Kiyoshi.Hamada and Masako.Izaki who are kept searching for the field. I would like to approach to the fields like "Behind the Surface" or "Depth of the Surface" where they are searching for. Naturally, it is closely related to how their paintings consisted.
First, the work of Hamada assumes the group of the line and the stroke of similar color as the layer. And the entire screen is composed with the different colored layers like a geologic stratum. Then, the completed surface is dug up with a knife or a hook, and the colors of the lower layer and more lower layer were exposed. Therefore, these vast signs make the surface to covered with the dynamic unevenness, and the surface makes the scene of the unknown light has oozed out from behind.
In contrast, the tone of Izaki's work is faint and pale as the fog, and the paint is thin as the film that seems to be transparent. There are faint and soft tone flows like semitransparent veils soundlessly. And the piled up flows make stripes. That realise us the invisible depth of the surface. The work make our sight to round "Behind of Surface" and to read extensively "Depth of the Surface". Finally, turns reversely and sends us to the hither of screen. In that point, the elements of Izaki's works are similar to the Hamada's.
It recalls the wise saying of a painter "The painting is a container that catches everything".
The works of Hamada and izaki are telling the painting is the "Container" which opened toward infinity.

November 21 - 30, 2007

Artists are expressing their selves through the works. Collectors are looking for the work with the sensibility and spirit which they like.
Therefore, the collections are describe the collector's character and sense. DOKA Contemporary Art is presenting the exhibition to grasp the artist, from collector's aspect.
International artist, Yoko Kamijo expresses a wide theme around "Installation" in wide space. But it is hard to obtain her works.
This time, we collected her works of black for individual collectors. At the same time, the race, religion and refugees problems of Palestine are taken up in politic, economic and social world, since 1948.
It is too large concept for a small gallery like us, but please enjoy this exhibition in silent and sensitive space.

September 21 - 29, 2007

If we were born from water, our art should be rise from the spiritual world which has quality of the capital of water.
The collaborated exhibition of Hidetoshi.Takahama and Jun.Ogata attempts to realise us the quality of the world where we should return with the shape of the transformed of water. Also that would restore our memory of water and remind us that we were the water.

May 21 - 31, 2007

DOKA Contemporary Arts is handling the collaboration of artists.
Two artists of this exhibition, Noriko Ueda and Hidetoshi Takahama, have always created a high-quality, Japanese abstraction work one after another.
The wind (Ueda) or the water (Takahama) is their own theme for a long time.
They are known as the artist who creates the delicate and high quality works. Therefore, they have been supported deep-rooted by some overseas art fans and collectors.
But also it is true that there is few chances to touch personally with their works except a part of art fans and collectors. It is different from other artists who catch the wave of the boom.

This time, DOKA Contemporary Arts planned the collaborating of these two artists who can express the Japanese sense of beauty refined extremely delicate and highly.
Their delicate and quiet works which a foreign artist does not have, are international because they are very Japanese.
Therefore, we collaborated these two artists, who can direct the calm and delicate place.
Please have their works closely and enjoy yourself as an opportunity to have the personal communication with artists.

December 4 - 16, 2006

Takehiko Kikuchi and Jun Ogata have announced the high-quality painting of Japanese style modern art, one after another.
Both artist has been supported deeply by a part of overseas art fans and collectors.
But also it is true that there is few chances to touch personally with their works except a part of art fans and collectors. It is different from other artists who catch the wave of the boom.

This time, DOKA Contemporary Arts planned the competing of these two artists who can express the Japanese sense of beauty refined extremely delicate and highly.
The extremely Japanese style with sense of color and humidity feeling must be international, which can not be expressible by foreign artist.
In this sense, we selected these two artists as the most important person who expressed modern Japan.
Moreover, they are so similar in style of "Wa", but there are much difference in "expression" and "background".

Please enjoy having the painting near yourself as a chance to deepen personal communications with these artists.

November 1 - 11, 2006

Kiyoshi Hamada has announced an extremely high-quality work one after another in the contemporary art.
He is known well as a high quality painter, from his works being put in a lot of museums as the public collection. He has a lot of influences on the art field by it and has been supported deep-rooted by a part of art fans and collectors.
But also it is true that there is few chances to touch personally with his works except a part of art fans and collectors. It is different from other artists who catch the wave of the boom.

This time, -DOKA Contemporary Atrs- collected and introduce the works of 80's, by the concept of "Shift to the expression by the line and development afterwards", to look back on tracks of Kiyoshi Hamada with him.

For Kiyoshi Hamada, who is continuing to grope for the point of contact of his own world and the society, the painting is the only one way to explain his sense which cannot be explain by words.
Please expect that the transparent feeling that Kiyoshi Hamada draws harmonizes with "Air" of the place and it is going to give the former fans the new fresh feeling in this exhibition.

May 15 - 27, 2006

The painting exhibition by Japanese and French artists of same period.
They have relations and the origin with "Classics" respectively while expressing quite different modern expressions in the work.

The French artist Redonnée expresses a peculiar material feeling and the expression of historical portraits and events by mixed-media technique like collage or overpaint.

Jun Ogata shows his original atmosphere with watercolors, which was replaced from effect of coloring by "Classic technique" of western style painting, as the undercoat and the tone of a color.