JONAS WOOD

Legacy In Color MAKI 9 November–21 December 2024 Tennoz, Tokyo

Press Release

MAKI Gallery and MAKI Collection are pleased to present Legacy in Color at MAKI Gallery / Tennoz, Tokyo. The exhibition features renowned artist Jonas Wood’s 24 Tennis Court Drawings, which was acquired by MAKI Collection in 2018. The work will be exhibited alongside other pieces by Wood and several by various artists active in Los Angeles. This show takes place a few months prior to the donation of this body of work to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and will act as a farewell for the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Maki, and a last chance for Wood’s Japanese fans to view the collection for one last time.

Throughout his work, Wood depicts motifs from his daily life—such as interiors, family, plants, and the world of sports, which he is deeply passionate about—while pursuing a unique visual language through color, shapes, and composition. 24 Tennis Court Drawings, first presented in 2018, is as the title suggests, a series of 24 drawings, which consist of four sets of drawings depicting the four major tennis tournaments (Four Majors) and two sets representing various tennis tournaments from around the world (Four Courts).

These works originated from photographs the artist took of his television screen while watching tennis matches in his studio. He describes this series as his “abstract color study”. Rather than focusing on recreating a tennis court as seen on a TV screen, he sets forth to maximize the possibilities that arise from the flatness and cohesiveness of the paintings. As part of this exploration, certain elements are drastically simplified or eliminated, while specific images are repeatedly depicted. By boldly limiting his color palette he enhances the role each color plays in the abstracted scene while simultaneously fusing certain aspects of his compositions. For the artist, the tennis court is a motif that consistently offers new possibilities and inspires him to revisit and reimagine, serving as a field where he continuously deepens his artistic practice through trial and experimentation.

This exhibition marks the final opportunity to view Jonas Wood’s iconic body of work at our gallery. We hope it provides a moment of reflection on the various encounters these pieces have fostered in Japan since 2020 and look forward to the new connections they will create in Los Angeles from next year onwards. We therefore invite you to visit and enjoy this special occasion.

Press Release: Written by Haruna Takeda