Nobuaki Takekawa, Mynah Birds in Hawker Center, 2020, Watercolour and ink on paper, 115.5 x 140.7 cm
From abstract to figurative, bright to soft colour palettes, and a mix of different mediums, the group exhibition “Works on paper” features a wide variety of works on paper by the gallery’s represented artists.
Figurative works by Maria Farrar (b. 1988, Philippines) and Nobuaki Takekawa (b. 1977, Japan) reflect upon nuances and observations of today’s society. In Farrar’s drawings, her depiction of scenes from her everyday life or from fragments of memories explores the relationship between female self-presentation, materiality, and desire. Contrastingly, Takekawa incorporates, in his work, accessible and light-hearted motifs to discuss underlying issues in our contemporary society. As for Tang Dixin (b. 1982, China), his new drawings incorporate surreal imagery of the human body, bringing about a sense of tension and absurdity. Also presented in this exhibition are works by Masanori Handa (b. 1979, Japan) which reimagine scenes from a traditional Japanese poem about a sea voyage in a playful and impressionistic, yet nonetheless contemplative manner.
On the other hand, the worksof Xu Danqing (b. 1987, China) and Zai Kuning (b. 1964, Singapore) are depicted in a much more abstract manner. For Xu, her exploration of human nature and the world of mysticism allows her to create works that encompass the visual feeling of smell, rhythm and colors that cannot be quantified in a logical way. Moving towards a more primal portrayal of human nature through abstraction, are new works by Zai which explore the relationship between man and the environment. Last but not least, the use of patterns and repetition can be seen in the works of Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929, Japan) and Tsuyoshi Hisakado (b. 1981, Japan). Kusama’s obsession with infinite repetition is reflected explicitly in her print works while Hisakado takes a more subtle approach with the intricate detail in his works which can only be seen when the viewer approaches them to take a closer look.
Venue: Ota Fine Arts Singapore, 7 Lock Road, 02-13 Gillman Barracks, Singapore 108935
When: 5 Aug - 30 Sep 2023, Tue. - Sat. 11:00 - 19:00
By: Ota Fine Arts
