Overlapped Scene

Artist Comment

My aim in participating in the "trait d'union21" was the discovery of new materials. After several months exploring a few different possibilities, I finally arrived at the familiar material of paper. I wanted to take a new approach to paper, this material that's so familiar to us and yet so profound. The inspiration I receive from the materials has always been important to me when creating new art pieces. When I quietly face a white piece of paper, I imagine the scenes and motifs that will be crystallized on it.

The MO Paper and GAMPI I'll be using this time are both handmade Japanese papers with a 1500 year-old tradition that originated in what is now Fukui. Five years ago I discovered MO Paper, a top grade printmaking paper produced by Keiji OKI, and two years ago I discovered GAMPI, an incredibly thin and elegant paper produced by Umeda WASHI Ltd.. MO Paper shows color very well and supports my freedom in the expression of color. GAMPI, which is a new material for me, is transparent and brings a soft light to my creations.

For this "Overlapped Scenes" series, around 10 pieces will be created in pairs. The series will be developed based on several images brought out by the possibility of this material called paper.

About Trait d'union 21

"trait d'union" means hyphen in French and is used to show the meanings of "connect" or "bridge". "trait d'union" was set up to support the creators who have gathered to the Omotesando gallery in Tokyo to express their ideas about new art in the 21st century through their activities. It aims to connect individuals and corporations and go beyond the genres of art, theatre and music. By so doing, it hopes to enliven art scene for the next generation and send a message to the society that we have endless possibilities.

作家コメント

制作に際し、これまで私は素材から得るインスピレーションを大切にしてきました。
心静かに白い紙に向かい合うと、そこに描かれるべき景色やモチーフが浮かび上がるのです。

trait d'union21に参加するにあたり、私は新しい素材との出会いを求めました。幾つかの可能性を探りながら数ヶ月間が過ぎ、結果的にたどり着いたのは馴染みのある紙素材でした。身近でありながら奥深い「紙」という素材に心新たにアプローチしたいと思ったのです。

今回用いるMO紙と雁皮紙はいずれも1500年の伝統を誇る越前で生まれた手漉きの和紙です。５年前、沖桂司さんが漉く高級版画用紙MO紙に、そして２年前に梅田和紙さんが漉く極めて薄く上質な雁皮紙に出会いました。MO紙はとにかく発色がよく、色表現における自由を支えてくれています。私にとっては新しい素材である薄手の雁皮紙は透過性があり、作品に柔らかな光をもたらしてくれました。

今回のシリーズ「重なる景色」はそれぞれが対になった作品約２０点で構成されます。紙という素材のもつ可能性から導きだされた幾つかのイメージをもとにシリーズを展開させます。

協賛＝梅田和紙株式会社
　　　MO水彩紙沖桂司
協力＝株式会社杉原商店
後援＝ベルギー大使館
企画＝表参道画廊（東京展）／NPO法人E&Cギャラリー（福井展）