NORITAKA TATEHANA

During Tatehana’s 2019 solo exhibition, WOODCUTS, a foundation of 1960s American minimalism was demonstrated through the artist’s experimentation of the ‘specific objects’ concept. Inspired by the classic motif of Genji-koh incense culture consisting of five straight lines, it was also during this exhibition that a new form was created, dissolving the confines between sculpture and painting.

As both the title and theme of this current exhibition, Dual Dialogue, was born out of both opportunity and reflection found during the period of self-quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Working tirelessly to create a new form of expression, it was during this time that a pairing of elements was derived from a dialogue between the artist and his contemplation of historical Japanese culture. Through the artist’s newest series of paintings titled, Duality Painting, a further expansion of the medium is expressed through Tatehana’s mastery.

Regarding his Duality Paintings, Tatehana has stated the following —

Just as the simple act of embracing another person turns two beings into one, by exploring the affinity between different symbolic elements such as ‘life and death’, ‘heaven and earth’, ‘man and woman’, reconstructions of such concepts upon a screen yield a formal expression of syncretism.

Formerly in Japan, there existed a phenomenon known as ‘shinbutsu shūgō’, where the Shinto and Buddhist religions were merged after a history of repeated separation and integration. Since the introduction of Buddhism in the 6^th century from the Korean kingdom of Baekje, the joined dogma of belief developed as a single body in Japan, and has long been revered in Shintoism as the ‘three sacred treasures’ of jewel, mirror, and sword. It was also during this time of preliminary fusion that the reproduction of heavenly beings in imagery is said to have begun. Furthermore, from the 8^th century, succeeding the Nara period, a formalised and widely-accepted amalgamation of Shinto and Buddhist traditions led to the establishment of sites known as ‘jingu-ji’ and ‘shingan-ji’, where Buddhist temples would be found within a Shinto shrine’s compound. Readily normalised in various aspects of society and culture, this syncretism of religions began to spread swiftly from the capital to its neighboring regions. It would be much later in history that an official decree to separate Shintoism and Buddhism would take place during the Meiji Restoration (1868), effectively banning the ancient practice of fused Shinto and Buddhist traditions. With Shintoism newly instated as the state-ordained religion, this separation in ideology would lead to a nation-wide rejection of Buddhism as a belief. Coinciding with the Meiji Restoration, Japan would decide to open its country following several centuries of isolation. Aiming to modernise by allowing an influx of foreign influences, the conception of modern Japan can also be viewed under the lens of syncretism. One could say that such blended values are unique to Japan in comparison to other countries.

The fusion of seemingly contradicting concepts creates new meanings and interpretations. As stated by Tatehana, such oppositions appear more common and natural than perceived when considering the tides of Japanese history. The approach of shining a new light through juxtaposing contrasting elements to unearth lesser-known characteristics has also been used continuously within art and academic research. It can be said that such considerations have become even more important in the present-day as a shift in values has become essential for survival. In reflecting upon the history of Japan, it is through the unique aesthetics that have been nurtured throughout centuries, and the rich resources of culture and thought, that one is able to find a new perspective yielding the future’s potential.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, such a calamity has served as an opportunity to deepen the artistic process of Tatehana’s creativity. Largely centered around the artist’s new body of two-dimensional works, we cordially invite you to attend Noritaka Tatehana’s solo exhibition, Dual Dialogue, at this time.

Click to view VR viewing room of the exhibition here