Ai Kumehara “Utakata no Niwa”
I visited “Utakata no Niwa,” a solo exhibition by the nihonga (Japanese-style) painter Ai Kumehara, currently on view at The Ueno Royal Museum Gallery.
Ai Kumehara’s solo exhibition is being held at the same time at “Garo Kunimatsu Aoyama” in Aoyama as well.
To my surprise, a crowd had gathered near the gallery; wondering what it was, I found that some of the cherry blossoms in a sunny spot had come into bloom. It was an exhibition blessed by the cherry blossoms.
Kumehara is an artist who studied nihonga at Tama Art University.
I began by viewing the plum-blossom works that have been prominent in her output in recent years. I’m grateful for the wonderful setting—being able to see Kumehara’s plum-blossom works at a gallery inside Ueno Park, one of Tokyo’s famous cherry-blossom spots.
The red-and-white four-panel series “Kōbai Nioi” I had also seen before at a group exhibition, so this was a reunion since then. Including the very setting of Ueno, seeing the work in a large, spacious venue conveys the power of the pieces in yet a different way.
“Sōten Niginigishi,” rendered in an elongated, irregular horizontal format.
I’m always impressed by the way Kumehara uses background color.
The impression of the plum-blossom works seems to change greatly depending on their size. Even the smaller pieces can be enjoyed while imagining their expanse, while the large works let you savor a simulated experience of being enveloped by them.
“Haru Shigure,” a work that contrasts with “Kōbai Nioi.” I felt movement, momentum, and intensity in it. Works like this are wonderful too. It’s a favorite of mine.
You can tell when you look closely: the exquisite control of the bleeding pigments painted on washi (Japanese paper) is superb. In contrast to acrylic or oil paint, the Japanese sensibility really strikes a chord. In the words of today’s young people, you might call it “emo!”
“Haru no Kitaraba,” a work with a superb use of space. The exquisite handling of the intervals is truly beyond words.
Perhaps because it was the first half of the run, the venue was comfortably uncrowded and easy to view. I took my leave of the venue with the satisfaction of having enjoyed an early, leisurely look at the plum blossoms.
