[Solo Exhibition] Ijichi Akiko “Visions of the Farthest Reaches II” @ Gallery Kunimatsu Aoyama

Ijichi Akiko has held a solo exhibition at Gallery Kunimatsu every two years. This time, she has delved even deeper into the theme of her 2016 solo show “Visions of the Farthest Reaches”—a vague, formless anxiety.Her works confront the many problems facing contemporary society and give form to the inner, psychological landscapes within people. Ten works in all were on view.

 

 

Ijichi Akiko’s work holds a distinctive worldview, set apart from the fashionable “beauty” paintings in vogue. The most striking piece was “Paradise Lost” (S10): a young woman in a prayer-like pose beneath dark, heavy clouds, in contrast to the clear blue skies seen in several other works. The color of that sky seems to mirror the complexity of modern society, yet the woman’s eyes are clear, holding a certain conviction—as if her gaze has found something far in the distance.