Curated by Kyoko Sato
July 16 – 28, 2018

The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 struck the hearts of many young Japanese artists, numbing them and causing some to lose their passion for creating new work, while others put into question the very nature of their artistic endeavors. Confronted with a cataclysm of vast, capricious natural energy outflow, these artists saw the sudden destruction of tremendous amounts of their carefully constructed artistic worlds achieved through enormous amounts of time and constant effort. Only those who experience such a disaster can understand the fragility of man-made creations.

In response, the seven Japanese artists in this exhibition, re-evaluated their roles as representatives of one of Japan’s new artistic legacies. How can Japanese culture, once again, be enriched and reshaped in ways only artists can fathom? These questions gave rise to the theme of Forsaking Pop: A New Art Generation from Japan.

Then, they asked themselves what truly reflective works—as artists born and raised in Japan—should present at this particular junction in New York, a pinnacle international art center. All seven participants agreed to relinquish the mainstream influences of Japanese Pop Art in their works, which most Westerners have come to regard, for good or for bad, as a core visual marker of contemporary Japanese culture. In the first decade of the 21st century, Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara elevated Manga and Anime subcultures to high-art, calling these works “Super Flat.” Thus, as a refutation, these seven artists have positioned their styles in diametric opposition to such art, instead creating works that are multifarious, independent minded, fresh, different, and above all free from the traditional influences of Japanese arts and crafts, as well as the overused clichéd vocabulary of Pop Art.

Today, the meaning in art and authorship have continuously been skewed with the advent of the communicative speed and exacting accuracy of social media, which makes it possible to disseminate large amounts of visual information in an instant. As such, any newly-created artwork can be easily imitated right away, making it scarcely possible to preserve the work’s originality. Therefore, in order to create something inimitable, artists must create, develop and maintain increasingly elaborated techniques leaning on their personal philosophies. These new-generation Japanese artists respond to such parameters with a new commitment to personal aesthetic devices, abandoning obvious Western values by focusing on a newfound Japanese sense of authenticity.

The seven artists in this exhibition share these common values; 1. They create works by processing materials in simple ways, favoring a rustic taste, rich evidence of touch and obscureness in the works, totally eliminating distinctly Japanese way, creating a very particular, universally appealing aesthetic. All artists in the show share many of these characteristics, and in unison, they are trying to move beyond the stereotypes found in Japanese Pop art.

About the artists (by alphabetical order)

Jin Hashimoto
His sculptures have presented as public art at HITACHI Power of Africa in 2012, and Ueno Park in Tokyo from 2011 to 2015. He won the prize at the 12nd KAJIMA Sculpture Competition in 2012. Hashimoto’s works were exhibited in the 11th Tagboat Award exhibition in Taipei in 2016, and joined Independent New York held at Ashok Jain gallery, organized by Gallery Tagboat. He received MA in metal-smithing from the Tokyo University of the Arts in 2014, currently based in Tokyo.

Ayaka Nakamura
Nakamura’s works were presented in the NY Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1 in 2015 and 2017. She joined the exhibition Tokyo Screening held at Haus Schwarzenberg, Berlin in 2015, and at Anthology Film Archives, New York in 2016, and JART4th at Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, New York in 2014. She received Special Recognition Award from Independent Tokyo organized by Gallery Tagboat, and the work was presented in Independent New York in 2017. She received BA in Printmaking from Musashino Art University, Tokyo in 2013, and now based in Tokyo.

Yutaka Okada
Okada received Second Prize at the exhibition Independent Tokyo and was exhibited in Independent New York in 2017. His works were presented in galleries in Tokyo, Kyoto, Kochi, Aichi in Japan and art fairs Love Art Fair, Toronto (2015), Affordable Art Fair, Singapore (2013, 2014), Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong (2014), and Art Expo Malaysia (2011-2014). Born in 1982, he studied design at Kyoto City Dohda Senior High School of Arts, and now based in Kyoto.

Naritaka Satoh
Satoh won the Grand Prix in the exhibition Independent Tokyo, organized by Gallery Tagboat, and the work was exhibited in Independent New York held at Ashok Jain gallery in 2017. He also won the Grand Prix at the 8th Spiral Independent Creator Festival organized by Spiral, Tokyo in 2009. The work was purchased by Tokyo University of the Arts in 2008 when he received MA in design arts. Based in Tokyo, he has joined the shows in Taipei, Shanghai and Singapore.

Aki Sakamoto
In 2017, Sakamoto received Special Jury Prize at the exhibition Independent Tokyo, organized by Gallery Tagboat. As a prizewinner, he was exhibited in Independent New York at Ashok Jain gallery in November 2017. He held a solo show at Starbucks Ikebukuro, Tokyo in February- April 2018. Born in Japan in 1987, he studied design at Tokyo Fashion College in 2005-2007.

Yumiko Shimada
Shimada’s work was exhibited in the show Independent Tokyo and Independent New York at Ashok Jain gallery in 2017, organized by Gallery Tagboat. She joined Tokyo Design Week in 2016. Receiving MA in Science in Policy and Planning Science from University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki in 2010, she started studying art in Lukanose of Art School, Tokyo.

Yusuke Wakata
Wakata received Asia Award Semi Grand Prix from Tokyo Designer’s Week School exhibition in 2014, and Excellence Award from Musashino Art University Graduation Show in 2017. He joined Independent Tokyo and Independent New York held at Ashok Jain gallery, organized by Gallery Tagboat. Graduated from Musashino Art University in 2017, Wakata is currently studying at Tokyo University of the Arts.

This Exhibit was largely made possible by the generous support of Gallery Tagboat.

Additional support was provided by the public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

Refreshments sponsored by Umenoyado Sake Distillery.

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