Vitalism Ⅴ
I went to see Chiharu Kihara’s solo exhibition at roid works gallery in Yushima. She is an artist represented by roid works gallery and reportedly holds a solo show there once a year. As this is her fifth solo exhibition, it has been titled “Vitalism Ⅴ.”
Many of the works on view are portraits; painted in oils, these twenty-odd new paintings all take “living things” as their subject, including animals such as cats and crows.
As luck would have it, Chiharu Kihara herself was there when I visited, so I was fortunate enough to hear about her work in detail.
What is distinctive is her technique of painting with the pads of her fingers, the first and second knuckles, her fingernails, and the like.
She told me she treasures the sensation of touching the canvas directly, and the result expresses both strength and delicacy, conveying real power.
Besides taking historical figures such as Misuzu Kaneko, Beethoven, Ryunosuke Akutagawa, and Sada Abe as motifs, there were also several unspecified portraits titled “Man,” “Woman,” and so on. These, she said, are self-portrait-like works depicting herself.
Several works used silver in the background. Her handling of color is skillful, and the overall tones are cohesive and well-ordered. Though they are oil paintings, they have a refinement that would suit a Japanese-style room.
My own favorite was this one, “Oiran.” It had already been sold, but what a magnificent work.
Small Works
Small framed works were also on display. Each was priced at around 40,000 yen.
Every one of them is a charming framed piece.
In Closing
Chiharu Kihara herself is petite and fair-skinned, with a clear voice, and comes across as a slender, seemingly frail woman. The gap with the power of her work is a little disorienting, but when I spoke with her she answered firmly and explained her work in detail. A strong will surfaces little by little — she is a most likable artist.
She also showed me many drawings that were not on display. The subtle touch of her lines — whether drawn with her fingers or with a pencil — is just as intuitive, carrying a lightness like a refreshing breeze.
I look forward to her continued success!
