We visited Shohei Yamamoto’s first solo exhibition, “What is the “entity”.” The venue is MEDEL GALLERY SHU, located on the second floor of Imperial Hotel Plaza in Hibiya.
Shohei Yamamoto first solo show — What is the “entity”
Shohei Yamamoto is best known for works produced with a distinctive technique using a specially made roller.
The 150-go monumental piece leaps into view the moment you step into the gallery.Shohei Yamamoto, Reiterate -skull red-, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paint, 2273 x 1818 mm, 2019Two works shown at Art Award Tokyo were also on view.Shohei Yamamoto, reiterate-tree lines-, 1,300 x 3,240 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paintShohei Yamamoto, reiterate-signature master-, 1,167 x 910 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paint
Flower-motif works have appeared in his practice before, but this time they showed a new development.
Yamamoto, whose overarching theme is “reiteration,” even repeats the same title across his works.
Shohei Yamamoto, reiterate-flowers-, 530 x 455 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paint — both share the same title
A new urethane series, reiterate-vagueness, was also on view.
It, too, uses the roller technique.
Shohei Yamamoto, reiterate-vagueness series, 530 x 455 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paint and expanded urethaneShohei Yamamoto, reiterate-vagueness red-, 530 x 455 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paint and expanded urethaneShohei Yamamoto, reiterate-vagueness gold-, 273 x 220 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paint, expanded urethane and gold leafInstallation view
His signature series were also on display, giving the show — his first solo — the feel of a culmination of his work to date.
From left: reiterate-radial blue-, reiterate-radial red-, reiterate-radial silver-, 910 x 727 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paintShohei Yamamoto, reiterate-radial blue-, 910 x 727 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paintLeft: reiterate-radial purple-; center: reiterate-skull red-; right: reiterate-skull blue-Installation viewShohei Yamamoto, reiterate-radial marble-, 606 x 606 mm, 2019, hemp cloth on panel with acrylic paint
Every work sold out during the exhibition, marking a strong start to Yamamoto’s career as an artist.
The 150-go piece filling the gallery wall was especially memorable.
Several future exhibitions are apparently already on the calendar.
A young artist whose next moves are well worth watching.
