Ryota Watanabe “Horizon”
We visited Ryota Watanabe’s solo exhibition “Horizon.”
The venue is roid works gallery in Yushima.
Ryota Watanabe graduated from Tohoku University of Art and Design and currently attends the graduate school of Tokyo University of the Arts.
His works are painted using an original technique he devised himself.
He applies acrylic paint to a cutter blade and drags it across the canvas to render his motifs.
He performs the same action with oil paint as well, creating paintings that express an exquisite texture.
Right: Ryota Watanabe, Flower, 1167×803mm (P50), canvas, acrylic, oil, 2021
Ryota Watanabe expresses the ambiguity of existence in the contemporary world.
His use of the cutter seems to be understood not so much as a drawing tool, but rather as an instrument for erasing presence.
The works were sold by lottery, but the presale drew great attention and reportedly sold out.
