We are pleased to announce the exhibition “Triadic Surfaces” by Yusuke ABE, Moeko KAGEYAMA, Yuuki WATANABE. They are young painter in their 20’s and 30’s; but the works already clearly show the worlds they aim, and the germination of distinctive forming.

The motifs which frequently appear in Yusuke ABE‘s paintings are : fictitious monsters, huge mazes, insects and fishing that he communed with in his childhood. At a glance, they look childish. In these motifs, concrete elements also are not a little included: such as video games and card games that he like, memory of childhood in Yamagata with rich nature, or reference to subculture. But, the thing which ABE really pursues by fusing them: is indescribable unknown world that can takes roots only in the paintings. In his recent works, the abstractness of drawn images rises. And by mixing various materials including things which aren’t used to treat in conventional production; he creates strange screens in which some sections of different spacial worlds seem to laminate. We can watch for problem presentation to existing paintings or arts, in his powerful works which are created by stoic and experimental production.

Moeko KAGEYAMA shows us traditional orthodox oil painting techniques, or characteristical imaginative world in her paintings. They may remind us lineage of the modern era arts that have been comprehended with the words such like “fantasy” or “surreal”. But in many cases, the origins of her productions are familiar things that she has touched really. For instance, the one of her important themes is contemporary urban development; and distortion of cities or buildings that are dug and build hurriedly by the development. She has drawn the theme replacing them with the motifs such like enigmatic organisms; or strange monuments that don’t fit for the place. In recent works, she keeps those presence, while tries to give the bizarre subjects positive meanings by manipulating settings of spaces or circumstances. The strange images based on her actual feeling become metaphors of modern society, and are starting to enhance the autonomy and to have more multitiered context.

Yuuki WATANABE, in his production, is always conscious of texture that the surfaces of matter have. Most of his works are composed of elaborate depiction of daily necessaries, toys or parts of human body; and formalistic constitution such as adopting shaped canvas that is cut out in the matter’s shape. There are not only mere reality, but also challenges to new senses of vision that are arisen by composing and pictorializing some texture. WATANABE says, “I feel that somethings new exist in the blank spot that is neither flat surface nor space; and the spot is born by composing surfaces of matter”. Behind deliberate production and craft-like smooth finishing; the perspectives connecting to unusual space are induced. That is great appeal of his works.

The three painters are quite different; but they have atmosphere of indescribable criticism or metaphysical sign behind the friendly surfaces in common. We hope this exhibition become opportunity for coming in touch the fresh potential and motivation of the three painters.

Moeko KAGEYAMA
1994　Born in Tokyo
2017　B.F.A.,painting, Musashino Art University ,Tokyo
2019　M.F.A.,painting,Musashino Art University ,Tokyo

Solo Exhibitions
2018　「Monumental park」　Court Gallery KUNITACHI　(Tokyo)
2016　「As illuminant」　TULLY’ S COFFEE Omotesando Store　(Tokyo)
2016　「Habitat of voice」　GALLERY b.TOKYO　(Tokyo)

Group Exhibitions
2019　「FIND YOUR ART FOR CHRISTMAS」　MARUEIDO JAPAN　(TOKYO)
2019　「OPEN STUDIO 2019」　ART FACTORY JYONANJIMA　(TOKYO)
2019　「UMARTs 2019」　JRA Racing Museum　(Tokyo)
2018　「Triadic Surfaces」　LOKO GALLERY　(Tokyo)
2018　「UMARTs 2018」　JRA Racing Museum　(Tokyo)
2018　「MDP GALLERY Art Festival」　MDP GALLERY　(Tokyo)
2017-18　「RIKEN Exhibition project2017」　RIKEN Yokohama Branch　(Kanagawa)
2017　「UMARTs 2017」　Equine Museum of Japan　(Kanagawa)
2017　「Future Award 」　Gallery Nichido　(Tokyo)
2017　「Tokyo 100 artists exhibition」　MDP GALLERY　(Tokyo)
2017　「TENGAI3.0 TOKYO 」　hpgrp GALLERY TOKYO　(Tokyo)
2016　「TENGAI3.0 」　hpgrp GALLERY NEW YORK　(New York City)
2015　「Hiroshima City Apartment」　Block House　(Tokyo)

Awardｓ
2019　ART AWARD TOKYO MARUNOUCHI　Judge’s prize(Eriko Kimura prize)
2019　FACE Award 2019　accepted
2017　Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program scholarship
2017　Future Award(Gallery Nichido)　special prize
2016,17　The Ueno Royal Museum Award　accepted
2016　Comtemporary Art Foundation Award　accepted
​
Art Fair
2019　「ART TAIPEI2019」　Taipei World Trade Center（Taipei）
2019　「ART OSAKA2019」　HOTEL GRANVIA OSAKA（Osaka）

​

ARTIST PROFILE: Yuki Watanabe