At Art Fair Tokyo 2019 we show five contemporary painters together with historical artists. What is bijinga trying to do today, and where is it going? We would like you to judge that for yourself, with your own eye.

At Art Fair Tokyo 2019 we show five contemporary painters together with historical artists. What is bijinga trying to do today, and where is it going? We would like you to judge that for yourself, with your own eye.

Exhibition Information
ExhibitionART FAIR TOKYO 2019
DatesMarch 7 (Thu) – March 10 (Sun), 2019
VenueTokyo International Forum, Hall E, booth G-119
HoursPlease see the official Art Fair Tokyo website.
Notes

秋華洞では10年前から「美人画」の現代的復活に焦点を当てて展覧会を開いてきた。
ひとつには松園、清方、深水、夢二、甲斐庄など多くの星を輩出した「美人画」の系譜へ光を当てなおすこと、もうひとつは現代日本画家である池永康晟が孤独に提唱し続けた「指派(ゆびのは)」、すなわち「人を描く」という素朴で根源的な彼とまだ観ぬ作家たちの衝動と運動に寄り添うことであった。

秋華洞が今回とりあげる5人の現代画家たちは、「日本画」という一応のプラットフォームと、女を描くという主題を共有しながら、まったく異なる世界観を示そうと現在進行系で格闘している者たちである。
「美人画」と言いながら「美人画」とは必ずしも言えない画家もいる。だがそれでいいのである。
かつての「美人画」の愚直な復活を目指す者もいてもそれはいいだろう。だが、今日的な意味で女たちを描くことの意味自体をそれぞれが問い続けること、それが、本当の「美人画」の復活であると考えている。女を描く現代の画家たちの中で、とくに今回は選りすぐった者を提示している。今日的な「美人画」は何をやろうとしているのか、どこに行こうとしているのか、今あなたの感覚で見定めていただきたい。

展示作家:池永康晟 岡本東子 中原亜梨沙 大竹彩奈 蒼野甘夏

池永 康晟(いけなが やすなり)
池永康晟「羽馴・悠」2019
池永康晟「羽馴・悠」2019
Yasunari Ikenaga
Born in 1965 in Oita prefecture and graduated from the Midorigaoka High School (attached to the Oita Prefectural College of Arts and Culture). Painted on his own dyed linen canvas, his "bijinga (Portraits/ prints of beautiful women)" provide a sophisticated texture and taste. His first art book in 2014 is a long-seller and his works are also published as prints, calendars and coloring books. Even in foreign countries, his works are popular as design of stationeries and novels.
岡本 東子(おかもと とうこ)
岡本東子「閉じる」2019
岡本東子「閉じる」2019
Toko Okamoto
Born in Kyoto and earned a MFA degree in Japanese Style Painting from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Okamoto Toko is a Japanese painter who looks straight at the essence of what she is painting, especially the delicacy of women depicted with refinement as if you could feel the temperature, humidity and the air rising from the surface of the work, a mysterious world created by her great artistic senses. It is hard not to be captivated by her intense and amazing works.
中原 亜梨沙(なかはら ありさ)
中原亜梨沙「水脈」2019
中原亜梨沙「水脈」2019
Nakahara Arisa
Arisa Nakahara was born in Okinawa and completed a master degree in Japanese Style Painting from the Tokyo University of the Arts.
Most of her works are portraits of women with vivid color contrast combining boldness and delicacy which have certain loveliness. “No matter where the starting point is, if she has the strength to live, she will definitely shine!” Nakahara said. The artist will be continuously creating the ”long-lasting sparkles” through the works.
大竹 彩奈(おおたけ あやな)
大竹彩奈「それでも」2019
大竹彩奈「それでも」2019
Ayana Otake
Born in Saitama prefecture in 1981. Graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts, PhD. in Japanese Paintings
Conspicuous trait of Japanese painting is to depict the object with subtle lines.
Today, Otake Ayana may be second to none who has full command at using the brush to draw the subtle line.
With much scruple yet much ease she deftly manipulate this line to depict the voluptuous grace of the beauty.
The most suitable way of depicting the womanliness lies in the subtle line of the technique of Japanese painting. Her works demonstrate clearly this fact and are still going to develop for aging.
蒼野 甘夏(あおの あまなつ)
蒼野甘夏「KAZENOMATASABURO」2019
蒼野甘夏「KAZENOMATASABURO」2019
Aono Amanatsu
Aono Amanatsu is one of autodidact artists, born and raised in Hokkaido and learned the technique of traditional Japanese painting by herself.She depicts her unique world of fantasies in free and delicate style.Because she doesn’t have a mentor, she has a free command on exploiting traditional technique in her originality. Her paintings give us a kind of pleasant impression.
Women like fairies are flying over in a free space without discrimination of sex. She is trying to take the legend of “Kojiki” as her subjects. She may well deserve to be a front runner who expands the possibilities of traditional Japanese painting.