Kyoto University of Art and Design Graduate School Graduation Show
As it was the graduation show of Kurumi Kotani, an artist I’ve been watching for some time, I visited the graduation show at Kyoto University of Art and Design.
My first encounter with Kotani’s work was at a group exhibition held at Seibu Shibuya in late November 2018.
She pitched herself into that group show, and even during the run travelled twice from the Kansai region — an artist with enough grit to impress the gallerists.
This time I was looking forward to visiting on the fine occasion of her completing her master’s degree.
Her technique of applying rust powder to canvas as if it were a pigment still leaves room for refinement, but her spirit of inquiry and originality of thought are truly impressive.
Her signature series has also grown steadier and gained a lovely finish.
At Kotani’s on-campus studio, the space had been opened up as well, with her works on display.
By the way, works are also sold at Kyoto University of Art and Design’s graduation shows.
Undergraduate works are collected in a price list, while for graduate students like Kotani, purchases can be made through direct negotiation.
I also had a look at prototype new works in the studio.
The level of completion isn’t quite there yet, but these were new-territory pieces that suggest Kotani’s world is still expanding.
She gives the impression of a hard worker who never rests on the current state of things and is always pushing into new frontiers.
After this exhibition, she is scheduled to exhibit at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. She also plans to set up a studio and begin her career as a working artist in earnest.
Constantly moving forward with new work, she’s an artist whose future I’m truly looking forward to.
