Kenichi Ogawa / Shun Kawami 2010 Nagoya

Kenichi Ogawa / Shun Kawami
November 20 – December 25, 2010
Nagoya

Kenichi Ogawa (title undecided), 2010
Canvas, silicone

At Kenji Taki Gallery, the exhibition Kenichi Ogawa will be presented on the first floor, alongside Shun Kawami on the second floor, beginning November 20.

Kenichi Ogawa Exhibition

Through works such as his Untitled (Pants) series — paintings using soft fabrics and rounded handmade canvases — and sculptural works like Curry Nose, in which human noses are molded from curry powder, Kenichi Ogawa has pursued a unique approach to texture and tactility. In recent years, his practice has focused primarily on drawings and paintings using silicone.

For this exhibition, Ogawa presents his Silicone Painting series. Before thickly applied silicone on the canvas dries, he rapidly scratches into the surface with swift gestures to create images. Through this new silicone-based technique, Ogawa continues his ongoing exploration of the expression of “touch” and tactile sensation. This marks his first solo exhibition at the gallery in approximately six years.

Born in 1969. Completed his graduate studies at Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music in 1993. Currently lives and works in Aichi Prefecture.

Shun Kawami Exhibition

Shun Kawami creates works using a wide range of materials, including installations incorporating ready-made objects, sculptural works assembled from wooden boards, and paintings made with house paint. This exhibition centers on the latest works from his Local Houses series.

Local Houses depicts contemporary Japanese homes encountered by the artist that possess a strangely distinctive presence. Begun around 2006, the series has grown to more than fifty works. As the series developed, Kawami discovered that “local houses” exist regardless of whether they are found in rural areas or cities.

Wooden houses painted in colorful tones, patterns of futons hung outside to dry, humble mailboxes, and endlessly lined flower planters appear throughout the works. While boldly omitting details and evoking the look of computer graphics or design imagery, Kawami deliberately avoids sharp precision, creating a visual language unique to his practice. Ordinary everyday houses are portrayed from a humorous yet detached perspective.

Born in 1981. Lives and works in Aichi Prefecture. In 2010, Kawami held a solo exhibition in Project N at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery and participated in Aichi Triennale 2010.

Shun Kawami, Local House 53, 2010