The Rising Tide: Contemporary Japanese and Japanese American Artists

Group Show

Jul. 11 - Aug. 06 2009

Japanese art covers a wide range of art styles and media, including ancient pottery, sculpture in wood and bronze, ink painting on silk and paper and more recently manga, cartoon, along with a myriad of other types of works of art. It also has a long history, ranging from the beginnings of human habitation in Japan, sometime in the 10th millennium BC, to the present.

Historically, Japan has been subject to sudden invasions of new and alien ideas followed by long periods of minimal contact with the outside world. Over time the Japanese developed the ability to absorb, imitate, and finally assimilate those elements of foreign culture that complemented their aesthetic preferences. The earliest complex art in Japan was produced in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. in connection with Buddhism. In the 9th century, as the Japanese began to turn away from China and develop indigenous forms of expression, the secular arts became increasingly important; until the late 15th century, both religious and secular arts flourished. After the Onin War (1467-1477), Japan entered a period of political, social, and economic disruption that lasted for over a century. In the state that emerged under the leadership of the Tokugawa Shogunate, organized religion played a much less important role in people's lives, and the arts that survived were primarily secular.

Aside from the obvious regarding this exhibit, all of the artists respect for their heritage on all levels is the true underlining theme of the body of work. Their culture is steeped in mysticism and superstition. Respect for tradition, nature, their elders and their overall culture. It all comes together in various manifestations  and mediums. Influenced by not only generations of history, but current pop culture. The Rising Tide is just a glimpse into the Japanese world of art from both sides of the globe.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

LiLJAPAN

LiLJAPAN (Hiro Hayashi) was born in 1981 in San Francisco. Since he was little he always had a fascination with the art world. From cartoons to graffiti to tattoos on old dudes arms. When he graduated from High School he lived in LA for about 2 years to learn how to survive in the world on his own. After that he wanted a bigger challenge so he moved to Japan for about 4 years. During those years he was looking for his purpose in life and realized that the artworld is his calling. So he moved back and began drawing more and more of the images in his mind. Many people say that his artwork is fit for tattoos and some say there is always something  “Japanese” in them.  He has also tried out many mediums but in the end decided that his all time favorite was using a pen and ink and the colors black,red and white.

Kiyoshi Nakazawa

Kiyoshi Nakazawa graduated from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena California spring of 1999 with a BFA in Fine Arts. He has sine made Los Angeles his home with his wife and two daughters. He exhibits regularly at such galleries around the world including LA Artcore, GR2, Junc Gallery, Grass Hut, GRSF, GRNY, La Luz De Jesus, Munky King, Damien Minton Gallery, 207 Gallery, World of Wonder and others. He has done illustration work for a diverse range of clients including LA Weekly, Dark Horse comics, Giant Robot magazine, Razorcake,  World War 3, Pancrase, The Aquabats!, The Unlovables, The Immortal Lee County Killers and others.

Yoshimi Sugiyama

Yoshimi Sugiyamais a San Francisco – based photographer. He trained at Academy of Art University in Fine art and commercial photography major.His unique view of life in nature and the subject, which always lies at the heart of his work, provides insight into why his photographs are so beautiful. He believes every subject has own form of life and photographs the beautiful moment of life. The moment he captures through the lens may not be seen by the naked eyes. In his fine art photography series, "Animism" he creates images of mysteriously beautiful nature made visible by a most unique and personal approach. His images challenges our notion of what a photograph really tells us.

He continuously pursue and develops his own photographic style; STYLE that reveals his SENSITIVITY and PASSIONABLE view of LIFE in nature and still life.

Asako Inada

An illustrator who is acting on concepts more freely than 2009 as for imagination. Perhaps, it is popular from the original merchandise of a popular select shop to artist's goods in the field.

Mike Oshite

Born in Japan in 1970, mike graduated from Nihon University “College of Art” Industrial design Tokyo Japan. After graduating he came to San Francisco and started freelancing as as a designer in illustration, architect design, graphic design, photography and model maker for toys.

Chanmen

Chanmen is one of the members of the popular Japanese vinyl figure makers, GARGAMEL. He does a lot of the art for the team and also create new characters.

Naoki Koiwa

He is the owner and creater of Minato Yokohama CRONIC. It was established on Feburary 22nd 2005. He is the one in charge of designing, sculpting and painting each of the figures he has released. Meaning he runs the company on his own.  Currently he is working on a new project with Cronic Toys, Minatoyokohama.

Katope

City factory worker, artist, and a citizen of Adachi district in Tokyo. KaToPe has held private exhibitions such as “SOUP” in Kami-Ochiai and “SISI BAR” in Tsukiji, and has had several other projects as well, including “GINZA GL”. KaToPe is also loved by many overseas artists in San Diego, San Francisco, and Oregon. And now, having finally achieved entry to a major art auction in New York and Paris, KaToPe has been attracting even more fans from the common citizen to the world’s wealthiest. And yet, KaToPe remains a unique individual who continues to work humbly in an iron factory.