ShugoArts Show
I visited the “ShugoArts Show” being held at ShugoArts, a gallery in Roppongi.
The “ShugoArts Show” is a group exhibition of artists represented by the gallery, and has been held periodically in the past.
This edition of the ShugoArts Show focuses in the front room on sculpture by Shigeo Toya and previously unreleased prints (recently printed copperplate works derived from a chainsaw-cut sculpture made in 1990), together with new works by Yoriko Takabatake.
In the back room, early works by Masato Kobayashi — who in December 2018 published the first volume of his three-part autobiographical novel “This Planet’s Paints” — were on view.
The early works by Masato Kobayashi on view included Scarlet Vermilion and Christmas White, both of which were shown in “Air Battle,” held from 1990 to 1991.
In Scarlet Vermilion, the artist and his model are said to be depicted on the left side.
Christmas White was left out on a balcony, exposed to wind and rain, giving it a deep patina of age.
Christmas White has since been framed and stored, but perhaps because it is a work that battled the elements, small fragments that looked like sawdust — as if bits of the support had crumbled away — could be seen scattered in the lower middle of the frame.
A rare drawing by the painter Masato Kobayashi was also on display.
Shugo Satani was present at the gallery, and I had the opportunity to speak with him.
He shared a great deal about Masato Kobayashi — from behind-the-scenes stories about “This Planet’s Paints” to commentary on the works themselves.
Also on view were rare drawings from the early 1990s by Leiko Ikemura — currently the subject of her acclaimed solo show “Our Planet — Earth & Stars” at The National Art Center, Tokyo — along with works by Lee Kit and Ritsue Mishima, and paintings on silver supports by Angel Vergara making their ShugoArts debut.
In terms of price, the lineup was clearly in the higher tier.
I contented myself with just viewing the 6.5-million-yen piece, bought the “Air Battle” catalogue for 1,500 yen, and left the venue.
