[Art Fair Tokyo 2019] Kohei Yamada, "In Praise of Quotation" @Kinosho Kikaku

Kohei Yamada @Art Fair Tokyo 2019

“Projects,” one of the programs held in the free zone of Art Fair Tokyo 2019, was a lively section presenting emerging artists to watch in a solo-exhibition format.
Among the 12 participating galleries, Kinosho Kikaku organized Kohei Yamada’s solo show, “In Praise of Quotation.” He is one of the artists this writer had most been looking forward to meeting.

Kohei Yamada solo exhibition "In Praise of Quotation." Left: "An Ordinary Tale of Madness"; Center: "Remember XX"; Right: "S… — Kohei Yamada solo exhibition “In Praise of Quotation.” Left: “An Ordinary Tale of Madness”; Center: “Remember XX”; Right: “Shy Graffiti
Artist”

Kohei Yamada’s work centers on portrait pieces depicting young girls and boys.
His basic style is to make two works from a single motif.

Top left: "Fragment for a Crucifixion"; Top right: "My Butterfly";Bottom left: "Hunter of Light"; Bottom right: "Soda Water … — Top left: “Fragment for a Crucifixion”; Top right: “My Butterfly”;
Bottom left: “Hunter of Light”; Bottom right: “Soda Water and Me”

His works quote earlier artists, and anyone who loves art should immediately recognize the elements each piece contains.

Top left: "Less is More"; Top right: "Infinity Girl (White)";Bottom left: "Less is Bore"; Bottom right: "Infinity Girl (Red)… — Top left: “Less is More”; Top right: “Infinity Girl (White)”;
Bottom left: “Less is Bore”; Bottom right: “Infinity Girl (Red)”
The three works on the left are giclée prints.

Even before the fair opened, a scramble for the works was under way, and the “Infinity Girl” pieces — quoting Yayoi Kusama — had all sold out before the doors opened.

Kohei Yamada’s dedication to his practice is filled with an uncompromising attention to detail. His pop-like colors, which at a glance look like acrylic, are in fact painted entirely in oil on canvas.
Seen up close with the naked eye, the surfaces reveal the subtle, precise movements of the brush.

"Infinity Girl (Red)" (detail). Every single element is rendered with meticulous attention to detail. — “Infinity Girl (Red)” (detail). Every single element is rendered with meticulous attention to detail.

The dots in “Infinity Girl (Red)” are painted even more finely and carefully than those in the original works by Yayoi Kusama, and Yamada worked on them with the mindset of virtually experiencing “a sensation that approaches madness.”

Careful work, with proper detail already worked out at the underdrawing stage. *The photo shows his latest work (Warhol?).

He also does not treat each work as a one-shot performance — he first carefully makes a pencil underdrawing before adding color. His deft use of color is another delight.

Kohei Yamada, "Less is More," 2018 — Kohei Yamada, “Less is More,” 2018

Perhaps one of the pleasures of viewing his work is spotting the meticulous touches Yamada has left in each piece.

"Less is More" (detail) — “Less is More” (detail)

This also helps explain why his pace of production doesn’t easily pick up. On average, he produces around two works per month.

"An Ordinary Tale of Madness" — “An Ordinary Tale of Madness”

You can catch glimpses of Kohei Yamada’s exacting sensibility in his everyday life through his official Twitter. Do give him a follow and keep an eye on his activities.

Photographed in the same signature pose as "Remember XX." — Photographed in the same signature pose as “Remember XX.”

We look forward to seeing which artists he will pay homage to next, and will continue to follow his practice with great interest.

Overview

Art Fair Tokyo 2019

Venue: Tokyo International Forum, Hall E
Dates: Thursday, March 7 – Sunday, March 10, 2019 (4 days; final admission 30 minutes before closing each day)
Press View: Thursday, March 7, 13:00-14:00
Private View: Thursday, March 7, 14:00-16:00
Vernissage: Thursday, March 7, 16:00-20:00
Public View: Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9, 11:00-20:00; Sunday, March 10, 11:00-17:00
Admission: Advance ticket / 1DAY passport 4,000 yen (tax incl.); Same-day ticket / 1DAY passport 5,000 yen (tax incl.) (Elementary school-aged children and younger admitted free only when accompanied by an adult)