SUSUMU KAMIJO

Since 2014, Kamijo has integrated the motif of poodles into his artwork, crafting pieces with crayons and pastels on paper. In more recent years, he has shifted to canvas and flashe vinyl paint, persistently pursuing the experimentation of forms, colors, compositions, and textures in painting, with the poodle as his gateway for exploration. The artist’s keen spirit of inquiry and genuine curiosity about the act of painting is conveyed through diverse paint textures created by skillful brush movements and layering colors, as well as the exquisite balance of composition that emerges from connecting forms composed with both straight and curved lines.

As Kamijo stated from the beginning, he has no emotional attachment to the motif of poodles, what we encounter in this exhibition is a creature born from the process towards the abstraction of the poodle, which appears elusive, resembling both a beastlike subject and a human.

Furthermore, while his previous works often depicted poodles in outdoor scenes with substantial negative space in the background, the pieces showcased in this series feature creatures arranged within indoor spaces, constructed by dividing planes on the canvas. These domestic environments comprise a broader spectrum of colors and incorporate various new components, such as birds, cats and fish. This approach is influenced by the fusion of figures and surrounding decorations seen in the work of Francis Bacon and Henri Matisse. It reflects Kamijo’s commitment to delving deep into his inner self as an artist. By adding extra layers of detailing to his work, he creates new opportunities with which to confront his deepest desires. Grappling with the paintings he truly wants to create, he strives to break free of his artistic tendencies.

This new practice appears to act as a process through which Kamijo, occasionally wrestling with conflicts, continues to reaffirm and uncover the identity of Susumu Kamijo as an artist. Despite his influence by abstract painting, Kamijo does not strive toward complete abstraction; instead, he explores the arrangement of lines, colors, and shapes while preserving a certain degree of figuration. Albeit his admiration of works that inquire into the darker aspects of humanity and society, he never loses sight of the brightness and playfulness that has always marked his work. Although driven by the impulse to depict chaos across the entirety of the canvas, Kamijo consciously maintains balance in whitespace and composition. These deliberate decisions shape a world that is uniquely Kamijo’s, and perhaps it is why we can, standing before his works, find a sense of cheerfulness.

Kamijo voices, “I have a sense of understanding what comes back to me,”. With this, the artist wishes to convey his ever-deepening awareness of the sensations and expressions that repeatedly manifest within himself and his work, as he navigates the process of experimenting with various painting techniques in pursuit of his inner desires. As the works in this exhibition demonstrate, there is no doubt that Kamijo’s paintings, alongside his poodle motifs, will continue to evolve. We invite you, through this exhibition, to witness the many new creations born from his profound dialogue with himself.

Press Release: Written by Haruna Takeda