ACT 2019 - Artists Contemporary TOKAS - 1st Edition - Sato Masaharu, Nishimura Yu, Yoshigai Nao
First Lingering Mist of Spring
霞 はじめて たなびく
Tokyo Arts and Space Hongo
23 February - 24 March 2019
Tokyo Arts and Space (TOKAS) has supported artists in a multi-career-stage and continuously supportive program through endeavors such as open call exhibitions, exhibitions of contemporary artists, and international fellowships. It has also conducted programs to introduce these artists’ activities. In the Artists Contemporary TOKAS (ACT) series launched this year, exhibitions will be held to introduce artists who are worthy of attention now, centered on those that have taken part in TOKAS programs.
This first exhibition showcases three artists: Sato Masaharu, Nishimura Yu, and Yoshigai Nao. They use images and paintings to evoke scenery that has never been visible before—they reinterpret the world through physical, intuitive scenes of the changing seasons and landscapes.
One way of expressing the seasons is the concept of “72 Micro-seasons” from ancient China. Each season name refers to changes shown by the weather, plants, and animals. This concept was adopted in Japan during the Edo Period, when it was partially revised by calendar scholars to match Japan’s landscape and climate. This exhibition starts in late February, which is called “Kasumi Hajimete Tanabiku,” or “Mist Begins to Linger.” During this time, the cold, dry air steadily becomes moister, and the distant scenery appears hazy. The humid air combines with floating dust and other substances, which transform the light. The three artists in this exhibition sensitively perceive these slight, ordinary changes with their bodies and create layers to depict brand-new scenery in the exhibition space.
SATO Masaharu
Sato Masaharu films actual scenery and creates animations by tracing the individual frames on a computer. He released Tokyo Trace (2015-2016), which depicts the changing scenery of Tokyo, followed by fukushima trace (2018), his new video installation for this exhibition showing daily life in Fukushima. This piece, created during his fight with cancer, expresses the scenery of Fukushima (where he has traveled after the earthquake) while superimposing it on his own body being ravaged by cancer. Part of it is animated, blurring the lines between the ordinary and extraordinary and beckoning the viewer into the video.
Sato Masaharu was born in Oita in 1973. Graduated with an MFA in Painting from Tokyo University of the Arts in 1999. Studied sculpture at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Germany in 2000-2002. Recent Exhibitions: "THE Doraemon ten" (Mori Arts Center Gallery, Tokyo / Takaoka Art Museum, Toyama / Matsuzakaya Museum, Aichi, 2017-2018), "Gifu Land of Clear Waters Art Festival, Art Award IN THE CUBE 2017" (The Museum of Fine Arts, Gifu, 2017), "Hara Documents 10 Masaharu Sato: Tokyo Trace" (Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, 2016), "Everyday Life / Off the Record" (KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theater, Kanagawa, 2014), "The Earthly Paradise" (Gallery αM, Tokyo, 2013). Awards: Special award, "The12th Taro Okamoto Award for Contemporary Art", Taro Okamoto Museum of Art, Kawasaki, Tokyo, (2009), Jury selection work of art division "15th JAPAN MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL", (2011). Upcoming Exhibitions: "Roppongi Crossing 2019: Connexions" (Mori Art Museum, Tokyo) from 9 February, 2019, "Dr. Reaper" (KEN NAKAHASHI, Tokyo) from 15 February, 2019.
NISHIMURA Yu
Rather than reproducing actual scenery, Nishimura Yu depicts the present moment while layering in the things he takes notice of in daily life. His paintings resemble landscapes or people you have seen somewhere before, or scenes from a tale. In this exhibition, they are displayed in the space in a way that naturally suggests a story linking the works next to each other. He will exhibit new paintings inspired by early spring at this exhibition, with the aim of inspiring viewers to spin new stories.
Nishimura Yu was born in Kanagawa in 1982. Graduated with a BFA in Painting from Tama Art University in 2004. Recent Exhibitions: "Azamino Contemporary vol.9" (Yokohama Civic Art Gallery Azamino, Kanagawa, 2018), "CONDO Shanghai" (GALLERY VACANCY, China, 2018), "portrait" (KAYOKOYUKI, Tokyo, 2017), "project N 61 Nishimura Yu" (Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Tokyo, 2015), "TWS-Emerging 2013 The Scenery Carried" (Tokyo Wonder Site Hongo, 2013), etc. Awards: Grand Prize, Koji Kinutani Award (2017), Excellent Work Award, FACE 2014: Sompo Japan Art Award Exhibition (2014) etc. Current Exhibition: "Aperto 09 Nishimura yu" (Kanazawa 21st Century Museum, Ishikawa) until 24 March, 2019. Upcoming Exhibition: "VOCA 2019" (The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo) from 14 March 2019.
YOSHIGAI Nao
Yoshigai Nao uses video and sound to depict physical sensations, striving to create a new form of video expression. Her film Breathing House (2017) was shot at the Seizasha in Kyoto, where the Okada Seiza method of mental and physical cultivation popular in the Taisho Period was promoted, right before the building was destroyed. She carefully depicted the sounds that come from physical movements, linked with the determined breathing method and posture in which the subject sits quietly while holding the stomach strong. In this way, she filmed a scene that one doesn’t usually notice. For this exhibition, she will showcase a video installation that seems to integrate with the viewer’s body.
Yoshigai Nao was born in Yamaguchi in 1987. Graduated with a BA in Dance Studies from Japan Women's College of Physical Education and with MFA from Graduate School of Film and New Media, Tokyo University of the Arts. Recent Exhibitions: "To travel with glasses" (Iwami Art Museum / Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art / Aomori Museum of Art, 2018-2019), "Primal Water" (Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, Las Vegas, USA, 2018), "hottamaru days--O JUN and Yoshigai Nao" (Minatomachi Art Table Nagoya, Aichi, 2016), "Breathing Room" (AI KOWADA GALLERY, Tokyo, 2017), etc. Awards: New Face Award, Entertainment Division at the Japan Media Arts Festival (2015), YCAM Film Competition for Imaginary Film Music, (Sakamoto Ryuichi recommended, 2013), Jyaran Award, Sightseeing Division at Nasu Short Film Festival (2013). Current Exhibition: Grand Bouquet, "Open Space 2018: in transition", (NTT intercommunication Center [ICC], Tokyo, 2018,) until 10 March 2019.
TOKYO ARTS AND SPACE HONGO - TOKAS
2 -4-16 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
ACT - Artists Contemporary TOKAS - Vol. 1 "First Lingering Mist of Spring"
Updated 18-02-2025
