Kaigado Gallery is pleased to announce Yoko Kurihara’s first solo exhibition at our gallery. Yuko Kurihara’s paintings capture familiar motifs such as cakes, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and sea creatures with a unique sensitivity. Her faithful depictions of these motifs are captivating to viewers with both the vibrant color schemes and the serenity of a Japanese painting. We had an interview with Ms. Kurihara for her first solo exhibition at our gallery.

How do you decide on a color scheme that is instantly captivating people?

I seem to have a propensity to sense bright colors and interesting color schemes in life more than anyone else. I want to paint the things I am particularly drawn to, so the color of the motif is naturally the most important element of the work. The world is full of hints of all kinds of color schemes, from the microscopic to the macroscopic, whether it is in a single fallen leaf, or in the raw and charred parts of the meat you are cooking. It would be more accurate to say that the color scheme is determined by the motif from the beginning, rather than creating the color scheme by myself. I hope that I can express the fascination of these colors in my work.

You paint many western-style motifs, such as fruits and sweets. What are the advantages of Japanese painting with Western motifs, and what are the difficulties?

I think it is interesting that even with the use of flamboyant colors, it looks strangely calm.

Another interesting aspect of Japanese painting is that I can draw the motif decisively by　capturing the motif in 2 dimensional ways. In other words, I don’t need to draw “superfluous information” such as the motif’s backgrounds or shadows in order to capture the concept of the motif. When people from overseas look at my work, they can see the Japanese touch even in the western-style motifs like the cake. I would like to try more challenging motifs that are not typical of Japan.

What is the most important thing to you in your painting?

One of the most important reasons for me to paint is to show people the appeal of the motifs that inspire me through my work. I think the most important thing is to be honest with the motif, to observe it thoroughly, and to draw it in a way that maximizes the quality of the material. I want to continue to have an inspiring sensitivity to the things around me.

Artist Profile

Born in 1976.  Spent her primary school years in Singapore,                                                                          Chiba-city in Japan in junior high school, and Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. in high school.

1994        Entered Japanese painting course at Tsukuba University

1998        Awarded the Art Prize of the University of Tsukuba

1999        Entered Tsukuba University Master’s Program Art Course Japanese Art Major Selected to represent Japan                 in the IOC’s Olympic Art & Sports 2000

2000       Sato Art Museum Scholarship Exhibition, Selected for Triennale in Toyohashi, Osaka Vision 21,                              Honorable Mention, Drawing on a Folding Screen

2011       First solo exhibition at Gallery LE DECO “FEAST” , Tokyo

2013       Solo exhibition “FEAST at Dragon Palace” at BUNKAMURA BOX GALLERY

2016        Solo exhibition “FEAST in the woods” at BUNKAMURA BOX GALLERY , Tokyo, Solo exhibition                                   “My Four Seasons” at Takenozuka “Showa’s House”, Tokyo

2018        Solo exhibition “FEAST in the tropical rain forest” at  BUNKAMURA BOX GALLERY , Tokyo, Solo exhibition                “Yuko Kurihara Japanese Painting Exhibition” at noie gallery , Tokyo

2019       Group exhibition “NIHONGA-KAIHOUKU” at BUNKAMURA GALLERY , Tokyo, Solo exhibition                                     “ONOZUKARASHIKARU -nature-” at arflex Tokyo, Solo exhibition “TAPESTRY” at Smartship Gallery,

2020       Solo exhibition “PM 3:00n” at noie gallery , Tokyo, Solo exhibition                                                                    “ONOZUKARASHIKARU -nature-”at arflex Nagoya.