EXHIBITION
The Art Gallery at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
October 2 – December 2, 2016
&
Honolulu Museum of Art
October 13, 2016 – January 8, 2017
YAMAMOTO Tarō
YAMAMOTO Tarō’s art practice is often described as Nihonga, a modern mode of Japanese painting, yet his paintings do not fit seamlessly into this category. Instead, Yamamoto enthusiastically embraces art movements of the past, especially the Edo-period (1615–1868) style known as the Rimpa School, and it is common to find painting themes, motifs, compositions, brushwork, and pigment application techniques associated with Rimpa in Yamamoto’s work. Yet these allusions always appear alongside references to contemporary Japan and its visual, social, and popular culture. In other words, Yamamoto updates Rimpa’s rich visual code, as well as its technical artistry and exquisite design sensibility, in a manner that resonates strongly with a contemporary audience.
Image:
YAMAMOTO Tarō
Red and White Plum Screen, 2015
pair of screens, 156 x 172.2 cm each