TOMOHITO USHIRO

Regarding the two-dimensional paintings included in this exhibition, Ushiro comments, “The concept of these works is ‘the stages of collapse an image undergoes when organic curves are straightened through a reduction of points in the line.’ By reducing the number of points on the curves which make up complete, representational images, such as characters, advertisements, and pinups that have left strong impressions on my life, I blur the specific meaning and function of that image and create something entirely distinct from its original purpose. When you remove points from a curve, the line becomes increasingly straight and pointed.” The paintings in the show refer to McDonald’s characters, Chanel perfume advertisements, and at times, S&M magazines. Donald and Donald land are inspired by advertisements from 1971—both the year McDonald’s first opened in Japan and the year Ushiro was born. The artist reflects, “In elementary school, I often went to the McDonald’s in Ginza with my family since we had heard that something awesome from America had arrived. It was the first time I became aware of American culture, and I saw Donald and his friends as its evangelists. For these works, I drew from visuals used by McDonald’s for advertising and communications in the 1970s and 80s.” The works demonstrate how cultures and trends that were imported from overseas have greatly influenced Ushiro since childhood. The painting process begins with first selecting an image, then digitally linearizing it to eliminate as much of its original function as possible. While the paintings’ basic components are based on a clear concept, the colors are airbrushed in multiple layers, creating deep, rich tones that balance the simplicity of the composition. The artist uses masking tape to delineate his shapes, and once the entire canvas is painted, he goes back in to block out each section and continue spraying similar colors on the area until he achieves a satisfactory tone—a process that is repeated many times. While Ushiro strips down his subjects to their most essential visual elements, he successfully preserves the integrity of his paintings by endlessly layering and adjusting their colors.

The Balloon sculpture series embody Ushiro’s inner conflict. Soft balloons are trapped between rigid wood, squeezed so tightly that they may pop at any moment; the artist draws attention to this “point” of contention. While the wood may dominate in terms of physical strength, it is visually overpowered by the vividly colored balloons. These clashing elements visualize Ushiro’s dilemma about what true strength means in this age of confused values, where gossip is deemed more accurate than truth, and flamboyance is equated with righteousness. The artist remarks, “I haven’t been able to fully figure it out, but I think I have some sort of addiction to stress. I feel like I always gravitate towards situations that put me under intense pressure. In that sense, the balloon may be me.”

We invite you to engage with Ushiro’s works, with their unique vision and masterful execution, as the artist embarks on a new phase in his creative journey.

Press Release: Courtesy of MAKI