Kamiyama Haruka’s solo exhibition will be held at Art Space Rashinban in Kyobashi from Oct 24 – 29, 2011.
Kamiyama was born in Kanagawa, Japan in 1975. A graduate of Tama Art University, he went to Santineketan in India to study at the Kala-Bhavana (Institute of Fine Arts) in 2000. He has participated in several group shows and held several solo exhibitions in Tokyo and Kanagawa.
Kamiyama can be contacted through his website.
Valerie Eguchi is an artist based in France. Since she discovered Nihonga in 2007, she has been studying and practising Nihonga with great determination, overcoming difficulties in accessing materials and language barriers. In her attempts to understand Nihonga, she has sought out learning opportunities by assisting teachers and working tirelessly through experimentation and referencing from real artefacts. Her works show great sensitivity to the subjects she paints and dexterity in adapting from another culture.
Currently, Valerie organises workshops in France through her association, Pigments et Arts du Monde and actively champions the preservation and promotion of Nihonga.
You specialise in decorative and wall painting, in addition to painting Nihonga. How did you get started?
I was 25 years old when I went to Paris for specialist training in that. After that, I started making copies of paintings in my boss’s workshop as well as doing work for companies. Then, I left and set up my own business. I worked for private individuals, restaurants, and hotels for the next 18 years. (At first when I started making art, I was using classical techniques I had learnt in oil painting. Then I started using pigments and acrylic mediums.
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While it is well known that Nihonga has travelled overseas and has been enriched by external influences in Asia countries, we know far less about western artists who have dared expatriation to absorb the influence of the visual language of Nihonga, so profoundly Japanese. Their subsequent challenge has been to return to their home country and appropriate this language, practising the principles of this new art in their own work.This challenge is being met successfully by Paul Nolan whose work sublimates the nature of Australia, his home country.
When I look at his paintings, I have a beyond-the-cultures sensation, which reminds me of a journey in Australia in 1987. I felt again a very strong presence of Nature and the Earth I’ve encountered in Central Desert, or along the beaches of Magnetic Island. By discovering Paul Nolan’s work, I recovered that very physical sensation and aesthetic emotion, close to the Quebec expression “être en amour” (being in love) with the earth.
What could be better than mineral pigments and the Nihonga Spirit to celebrate this generous and sensual nature, stark at times. Paul Nolan knew magnificently how to renew the Nihonga in presenting Australian sceneries. By investigating into another culture, he then knew how to give us a fresh look on his own Australian culture.
Valérie Eguchi
His Site extract:
About Paul Nolan
On first encountering the original paintings of Ono Chikkyo, a modernist master of Japanese painting (Nihonga), I was deeply moved and wanted to learn about the method which was so suited to the kind of landscape and nature paintings that I am moved to produce. In particular the purity of the colours – the blues, green, ochres and whites, and the soft rich textures, seemed to resonate with my spirit. The materials seemed so well suited to celebrating nature. These include hand made Japanese paper with its strong natural fibres, sumi, seashell white, earth and semi-precious, mineral pigments and gold and silver leaf.
The aesthetic principles of Japanese Art which are said to have developed from profound contemplation of nature, also greatly appeal to me. Such principles as “wabi” and “sabi”, for example, belong to Japan’s unique culture, but can be understood by people around the world, as expressions of mans relationship to nature.
Paul Nolan
Paul was awarded a scholarship in 1982 by the Japanese Ministry of Education and Culture. He completed his studies in 1986 with a Masters Degree in Japanese Painting (Nihonga) from Tokyo University of Fine Art (Geidai). He was one of the first foreigners ever to graduate in Nihonga and the first Australian to do so.
Paul has been invited by the selection committee to exhibit at the 2011 International Biennale of Contemporary Art to be held in Florence Italy in December 2011. This event is an opportunity of a lifetime for Paul to display his unique Australian art on the world stage. Paul has selected his depiction of Gymea Lillies, a truly iconic plant of the Australian bush, as one of the paintings to be exhibited.
How you can help
Paul is seeking assistance through donations to help cover the cost of entry, travel, freight and exhibiting at the Biennale in Florence.
Australia Business Art Fondation
“Kenten” is an art exhibition for the prefecture’s people, and each prefecture organises their own Kenten every year.
In 2011, the 65th Kenten in Kochi Prefecture will be held from October 7 to 23. It is the biggest art event for the people of Kochi. There were about 4000 entries submitted to the exhibition and 30% of them were accepted. About 30000 people will be expected to visit the exhibition over the course of 3 weeks.
“Kochi-Kenten” (088)-866-8000 Kochi Prefectural Art Museum : 353-2, Takasu, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, 781-8123
from Oct 7 – 23
毎年、日本のほとんどの都道府県では「県展」と呼ばれる県民のための美術展覧会が開催されます。高知県では今年で65回目の県展が10月7日より始まりま す。毎年4000点近い出品がありそのうち30%の作品が入選します。3週間の会期中に30000人近い入場者が訪れる、県民にとってとても大きな芸術イ ベントです。
会場（2会場）：高知県立美術館・高知市文化センターカルポート
会期：10/7～10/23（会期中無休）
(report from Araki Yoichi, Kochi Prefecture)
Congratulations, Araki-san on having your works featured in the Kenten, this year!
Araki-san is a Nihonga artist who also teaches at the Bunka Centre, Kochi.
Previously, he has won first prize, three times at the Kenten. This year, Araki-san will be exhibiting his work, 【風香】 as seen here from his website.
Nihonga 日本画 