Two-dimensional Expression over Two Eras: Shigeru Izumi and Six Contemporary Artists

Two-dimensional Expression over Two Eras:
Shigeru Izumi and Six Contemporary Artists

Shigeru Izumi / Shunsuke Imai / Yaya Ueda / Takumi Kato / Katsuhisa Sato / Takuro Sugiyama / Teppei Soutome
Oct 9 (sat) - 31 (sun), 2021
Venue (Organizers) | Yoshimi Arts, the three konohana
Cooperation | Aoyama Meguro, Kodama Gallery, HAGIWARA PROJECTS

Yoshimi Arts
Exhibiting artists | Shigeru Izumi / Shunsuke Imai / Takumi Kato / Katsuhisa Sato
12:00-19:00 (sun -17:00)
Closed on mon, tue
Wakasa Bldg. 3F, 1-8-24, Edobori, Nishi-ku, Osaka

the three konohana
Exhibitiong artists | Shigeru Izumi / Yaya Ueda / Takuro Sugiyama / Teppei Soutome
12:00-19:00
Closed on mon, tue, wed
1-23-23-2F, Baika, Konohana-ku, Osaka
http://thethree.net

We are pleased to announce that Yoshimi Arts and ‘the three konohana’ will jointly curate the exhibition: “Two-dimensional Expression over Two Eras: Shigeru Izumi and Six Contemporary Artists”.

With the aim of fostering momentum to re-evaluate Shigeru Izumi (1922-1995), Yoshimi Arts and the three konohana have been holding Izumi’s solo exhibitions annually, with two jointly-curated exhibitions in 2017 and 2019, and two hosted by Yoshimi Arts in 2018 and 2020. Evaluations of Izumi’s work have tended to focus on those from specific periods, such as his early print works from the 1950s, when he was a member of the avant-garde art group, Democratic Artists Association, and his oil paintings from the 1960s, during which time Izumi traveled to New York and Paris. With this in mind, we have been featuring his exhibitions from various perspectives, focusing on the development of his works from the latter part of the 60s to his later years in the early 90s, when he vigorously incorporated various techniques and ideas of two-dimensional expression, changing his style in a short span of time. Over the past four years, we have been able to spread awareness of Izumi and his multifaceted production activities, as well as his creative thoughts, among a generation who were not familiar with his life. We have also gained a great deal of sympathy and understanding for his production methods from the artists of the younger generation.

Five years since we first featured Izumi’s works in 2017, this exhibition, our third joint project, will be taking on a group exhibition format for the first time, showcasing Izumi’s works together with six contemporary artists. We invited artists in their 30s and 40s who have been earnestly working on the development of contemporary two-dimensional and painting expressions, and whose works are somewhat reminiscent of Izumi’s expression and production methods. Their works will be divided and exhibited at two venues, each one for three artists. With Izumi’s works from various periods exhibited at each venue as a starting point, the six artists will present new works derived from their thoughts, inspiration, and interpretations of Izumi’s pieces. By juxtaposing Izumi’s works with those of the contemporary artists, we’d see this as an opportunity to consider the similarities and differences between artists who have lived in different eras.

During the exhibition period, two online talk shows will be held. Two curators with deep knowledge of Izumi's artistic career and his works, and contemporary two-dimensional and painting expression, respectively, will be invited to discuss the links between the two periods with the six exhibiting artists. We hope, through reflections on the exhibition and the talk events, this will be another occasion to discover new clues that may lead to the re-evaluation of Izumi, and the future vision of developing contemporary two-dimensional and painting expression.

main image | Shigeru Izumi　from《print works for process of screenprint 》 1969　screenprint on paper　39.5 x 54.4 cm　ed. 7/30 ［Exhibited at Yoshimi Arts］

■Event
Online Talk Show (Japanese)
Date&Time | 18:00-20:00, Oct 18 (mon), 25 (mon)
Venue | Zoom Webinar (online)
Participation fee | 1,000 yen (2 days / credit card or bank transfer)
Application | GoogleForm https://forms.gle/aSSMtjRrqjs7FxRh8
Speakers |
Oct 18 (mon): Yasuhiko Okumura (The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama), Yaya Ueda, Takumi Kato, Takuro Sugiyama
Oct 25 (mon): Toshiharu Suzuki (Toyota Municipal Museum of Art), Shunsuke Imai, Katsuhisa Sato, Teppei Soutome

Shigeru Izumi
Born in 1922, Died in 1995.
Collection: The Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama; The National Museum of Art, Osaka; Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; etc.
artist page >>

Shunsuke Imai
Born in Fukui Prefecuture in 1978, Currently lives and works in Tokyo. MA, Musashino Art University, 2004.
Recent major solo exhibitions are "Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, and White" HAGIWARA PROJECTS (Tokyo, 2021), "shiseido art egg vol.8, Shunsuke Imai 'range finder'" Shiseido Gallery (Tokyo, 2014). Major group exhibitions are "Pleased to meet you. New Acquisitions in recent years" Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2019), "Reborn -Update for the Future- Part Ⅱ Creating the Next Stage" Fukui Fine Art Museum (2019), "Paintings Here and Now" Fuchu Art Museum (Tokyo, 2018).

Takumi Kato
Born in Aichi Prefecture in 1984, Currently lives and works in Gifu Prefecture. BFA, Osaka University of Art, 2010.
Recent major solo exhibitions are "Re touch" the three konohana (Osaka, 2021), "ARRAY" the three konohana (2016). Major group exhibitions are "VOCA 2020" Ueno Royal Museum (Tokyo, 2020), "TIMELINE -Multiple Measures to Touch Time"The Kyoto University Museum (2019), "New Mutation" Kyoto Art Center (2018).

Katsuhisa Sato
Born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1973, Currently lives and works in Aichi Prefecture. MA, Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, 1999.
Recent major solo exhibitions are "SHOUONJI ART PROJECT 28th surface / ecafrus" Shouonji (Tokyo, 2021), "Contradiction sets up picnic blankets. / Contradictorily spreads out picnic blankets." Kodama Gallery | Tennoz (Tokyo, 2019). Major group exhibitions are "Who Opens up the World?" Toyota Municipal Museum of Art (Aichi, 2019), "Current Location of Paintings" Sapporo Odori 500-m Underground Walkway Gallery (Hokkaido, 2018), "Aichi Triennale 2016" Nagoya City Art Museum (Aichi, 2016).

Yaya Ueda
Born in Osaka in 1989, Currently lives and works in Kanagawa Prefecture. MFA, Kyoto Seika University, 1989. Also works as a member of the artist unit "THE COPY TRAVELERS".
Recent major solo exhibition are "KUKAN RENDOU ASAKI" gallery TOWED (Tokyo, 2019), "A Magpie’s Nest" galerie16 (Kyoto, 2018). Major group exhibitions are "Assembridge Nagoya 2019 PANORAMA GARDEN –Towards a Sub-Ecosystem–" Minatomachi POTLUCK BUILDING, Former Minato Dormitory of Nagoya Custom (Aichi, 2020), "Gunma Biennale for Young Artists 2019" Museum of Modern Art, Gunma (2019, Encouragement Prize), "VOCA 2017" Ueno Royal Museum (Tokyo, 2017, Encouragement Prize).

Takuro Sugiyama
Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1983, Currently lives and works in Hyogo Prefecture. BFA, Osaka College of Art, 2005.
Recent major solo exhibition are "periphery and the method" Godaisan Chikurinji (Kochi, 2017), "LOOP" ASYL (Osaka, 2014). Major group exhibitions are "SPR" FINCH ARTS (Kyoto, 2020), "paint( )ings" Yutaka Kikutake Gallery (Tokyo, 2018), "Walking In Textiles -Contemporary Art in Ichinomiya" Old hayashike housing (Aichi, 2018).

Teppei Soutome
Born in Tochigi Prefecture in 1980, Currently lives and works in Tokyo. BFA, Tokyo Zokei University, 2005.
Recent major solo exhibitions are "our time" Aoyama Meguro, NADiff a/p/a/r/t, void+ (Tokyo, 2020), "Painting and … vol.1 Teppei Soutome" gallery αM (Tokyo, 2018). Major group exhibition are "Olaph the Oxman" C Ø P P E R F I E L D (London, 2019), "Pleased to meet you. New Acquisitions in recent years" Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (2019), "Singing falsetto" Oyama City Kurumaya Museum of Art (Tochigi, 2017).