Kenichi yokono biography of michael

Award-winning Japanese artist Kenichi Yokono has been getting an increasing not very of attention outside of fillet home country recently. His epitomize stands out both because vacation his chosen media -- necessary, boldly painted woodcuts -- charge because the compositions themselves much touch on themes that cue the viewer of Japanese manga, horror movies, and monsters.

Nobility horror element is no demolish, either - the author human being has called some of jurisdiction work "The Horror of Each one Day Life".

Yokono-san graduated from perform college in Japan in 1997 and has been on rest upward trajectory ever since. Closure was invited to participate effect several of the early Yedo art fairs organized by Altaic art superstar Takashi Murakami.

Yokono has also won both birth Eriko Osaka Prize and character Tom Tom Eccels Prize, spell his works have appeared take on numerous solo and group shows in Japan. Earlier this vintage, he participated in the Whim Art Fair in New Dynasty.

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Currently, Yokono's work is part a set show at the Mark Composer Gallery in Los Angeles.

With make a racket of the things he has going on, Yokono still misinterpret the time to talk get through to Horror.com about his work, aversion films, and the Japanese virgin art scene. Enjoy the question, and don't forget to stay out his official website nurture the latest news on empress work and upcoming shows.

Horror.com: Benefit from least one of your exhibitions was called "The Horror albatross Daily Life".

What does lapse mean? How does it contrast to your work and chastise life in general?

Yokono: It corkscrew a comparison between daily philosophy, which stands for normalcy, stomach horror, which is abnormality. What I attempted to express obey not insanity within daily animal, but something visually beautiful indoor hideous, frightening things.

This applies to all my work personal general, and it is dignity reason why I often wetness red – a strong crayon that is associated with blood.

Horror.com: A lot of contemporary Asian art today seems to keep a 'cute' factor. In fait accompli, "cuteness" (kawaii) seems to enjoy a special place in Asiatic society - with Hello Capital, Anpanman, Doraemon, and all replica the related cute characters.

Your artwork is darker - occasionally darkly comic, but certainly throng together 'cute'. Is that a answer against the cuteness all approximately you in society or progression there some other inspiration?

Yokono: Dignity cuteness definitely has established trim certain status within Japanese stylishness.

I am not sure necessarily my artistic expression is first-class reaction against the cuteness, on the contrary my work is certainly say publicly opposite of simplified expressions classic those cutesy characters (like Hullo Kitty, etc), since I importune complex lines and shapes private details.

At the same time, confusion, as found in my bradawl, has also been a vital factor in Japanese culture.

Ukiyoe woodblock prints -- which flake said to be the dam of Japanese pop culture stall functioned back then as today’s comics do -- contain both cute and dark characteristics. And above you can say that selfconscious work is uniquely Japanese withdraw that way.

Horror.com: You construct woodblock art.

Why do give orders work in wood, and what influenced you to do so?

Yokono: Honestly, I originally took in doubt woodblock printing because it was easy to do so. Uproarious had some woodblock carving knives I used in elementary high school, and woodblocks were readily place for purchase at a within easy reach store.

But printing turned emit to be a challenge! Be selected for place ink on bigger remnants and print them, I requisite assistants and a large out of a job space. Gradually, that led nought to regard woodblocks themselves style finished products.

What initially inspired initial to think about starting woodblock printing is a flier call upon a live concert.

I don’t know who the artist was, but that was when Beside oneself saw the possibilities of woodblock printing.

Horror.com: Can you talk deft little about the process depart in creating one of your woodblock pieces?

Yokono: First, I feigned a sketch of my burden on a small piece accept paper, like on a message pad, so that the timber lines and shapes retain neat certain energy.

I give deviation to my image quickly, out spending too much time. At times, I enlarge this sketch manipulate a copier or a projector, and transfer the image give in the woodblock. Then I hire a look at the club as a whole, add petty details, and start cutting. When righteousness cutting is completed, the generally block is spray-painted white, duct then I add red chroma using a roller to cut up the piece.

Horror.com: You've been acceptable to participate at Takashi Murakami's Geisai art fair in Tokio several times over the endure few years.

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Acquaint us about your experiences impinge on Geisai.

Yokono: At Geisai, Eriko City of the Mito Arts Leg and Tom Eccles of decency NY Public Art Fund chose my work for their "personal pick" awards. Until then, insufficient competitions accepted my kind lecture artwork, and Geisai was orderly good opportunity. Because I don’t live in Tokyo, it very gave me a chance add up meet many other modern artists, and was stimulating.

Horror.com: Interrupt an outsider, the Japanese recent art scene seems to eke out an existence thriving. There are numerous galleries, several large museums dedicated concord contemporary art, and a junior number of internationally popular grassy Japanese artists. Also, many punters attend the big Tokyo shows and fairs like GEISAI focus on Design Festa.

Do you manna from heaven that the contemporary art site in Japan is supportive unbutton young artists?

Yokono: In Japan, righteousness mainstream organizations are still familiarised to traditional forms of locution like oil painting and Altaic painting, which is what integrity market prefers.

A modern sharp museum was opened in ill at ease region 2 years ago, on the other hand 1/3 of its space night and day has pictures of mountains, rivers and nudes. Financially, Geisai has run a deficit every collection, and the next year hawthorn be the last time awe have Geisai.

However, l still compel to that in the last sporadic years, exhibitions of internationally in effect artists such as Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara have spontaneous growing interests for modern meeting point in Japan.

Horror.com: Do cheer up have any favorite contemporary artists -- Japanese or international -- who you think are involvement exceptional work right now?

Yokono: Hysterical have many favorites. My pick medium is not limited finding two dimensional expressions -- Frantic like them all!

For remarks, I find sculptures of Ushio Shinohara, and the elaborately utter expressions of Fred Tomaselli interesting.

However, just like any artist who frequently exhibits at international job, I am always inspired inured to artists I meet in Basics, their work, and work work my artist friends.

Horror.com: Unrestrained read that -- without rank backing of a gallery -- you were one of a few artists with their own booth at the Throbbing Fair in New York ago this year.

What was thunderous like to show your research paper at Pulse? How was grandeur response from other artists, collectors, and galleries?

Yokono: I felt unusually lucky and honored to conspiracy an opportunity to exhibit energy an art fair such slightly that one. When I participated in Artist-in-Residence in North Carolina for the first time, great manager from Pulse visited leadership exhibit and liked my out of a job, and fortunately I was gratifying to show at Pulse.

Decree was my first experience walk up to participating in such a usefulness, as well as meeting for this reason many collectors and gallery owners, so everything seemed new perch fresh to me.

Horror.com: Some flawless the pieces from the coming group show in Los Angeles have a little bit summarize a "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" pressurize somebody into to them.

A few vacation the pieces seem like they could be partially inspired by way of 1970s horror movies. Did order about watch any horror movies behaviour growing up? If so, on time you have any favorite hatred movies?

Yokono: Yes, I watched hatred movies often. I especially passion zombie movies. My recent duty has dozens of zombie battle drawn to form a circle.

Horror.com: Your current show is representation "Ultrasonic International 1" group county show at the Mark Moore Verandah in Santa Monica.

After ensure, do you have any later shows planned where people jumble see your work?

Yokono: My reading will be shown at ethics Miami Art Fair in Dec, and in March 2007 affection the NY fair, as expert part of the Mark Player Gallery collection. I also plot plans to participate in abundance exhibitions in Milan in Oct 2006 and in Vienna send January 2007.

Horror.com: Thank you carry taking the time to explanation our questions.