Yasuyo
Peace Promoting Telepathy
25 (Sat) November ~ 3 (Sun) December 2023
Yasuyo recalls playfully claiming as a child that she hailed from Venus, a distant world. Nowadays, she aspires to embody the essence of a "happy earthling" whose harmonious spirit might even earn admiration from Venusians. Using her creativity as a medium, the artist endeavors to foster mutual understanding among people, emphasizing the significance of "art" as the antithesis of "conflict."
The intriguing exhibition title, "Peace-Promoting Telepathy," invites viewers to seek hidden messages within her works. For the artist, the concept of telepathy serves as an equivalent mode of interacting with the world, much like her visual art. Simultaneously, the title may metaphorically represent her own painting practice.
Adhering to a purely intuitive approach, Yasuyo aims to craft images as a universal means of communication, allowing viewers the freedom of perception. Through her pictorial system of signs, she shares emotions and meanings with the audience. "My abstract paintings are a 'pure deviant play,' portraying an adventurous journey where individuals experience freedom, liberate themselves from constraints, and discover beauty."
Yasuyo draws inspiration for her art from natural, simple elements inseparable from everyday life. In addition to her personal emotions, she incorporates concepts from popular culture, embedding them within the context of abstract painting. This aligns her work spiritually with pop art, with the distinction that objects transform into abstract forms. The titles of her works guide the viewer towards an ironic interpretation, complementing the overall message.
The artist's style can also be contextualized within the Japanese ukiyo-e tradition, characterized by distinct outlines, "flat colors," and a deliberate absence of natural perspective. Painted surfaces intermingle with stationary forms, anchored to the canvas through thin lines, strokes, and brushstrokes. The creation of volume and depth in the imagery arises from the proportional balance of details. These techniques, uniting clearly colored shapes and lines, impart a poster-like to her works. Much like words compile into speech, Yasuyo links abstract objects together, earning her the title of a color storyteller.
Exhibition View
Featured Works
Yasuyo
Born in Kyoto Received the purchase prize at the National University Print Exhibition. Selected for the Contemporary Print Biennale. Selected for the New York Print Art Biennale. After graduating from art university, artist moved to Tokyo and worked as an artist and illustrator. Yasuyo created illustrations depicting women and modern life for department stores, commercial facilities, brand advertisements, magazines, and books. In 2011, artist moved back to Kyoto and resumed her activities as an abstract expressionist. "Embarking on a purposeless journey, my work unfolds as an uncharted adventure, a quest to discover elusive beauty along the way. Through repetitive acts of drawing and deliberate dismantling, I transcend the confines of ego, allowing a new form to emerge on the canvas. It is within this process that I confront the duality of light and darkness, embracing their presence in both my art and my life. My artistic practice is characterized by innocent improvisation and an objective exploration of the world around me. Like the rhythmic dance of the body, my creative process flows with intuitive motions, guiding the strokes of my brush or the marks of my pen. In this harmonious interplay of spontaneity and observation, I strive to capture moments of profound significance and evoke emotions that resonate with viewers. With each artwork, I invite audiences to join me on this transformative voyage. Through the absence of a predefined destination, we engage in a shared experience, unearthing the unexpected and discovering beauty that was previously concealed. It is my hope that this journey, rooted in curiosity and open-mindedness, sparks introspection and encourages a deeper connection with the enigmatic forces that shape our existence. Ultimately, my work embodies the essence of exploration and embraces the notion that art has the power to transcend boundaries, challenge perceptions, and unlock new realms of understanding. It invites viewers to embark on their own personal odyssey, where the interplay of light and darkness illuminates hidden truths and the rhythmic pulse of life echoes through every stroke and line. Join me on this voyage, where purpose is relinquished, and the pursuit of beauty becomes the catalyst for profound transformation."