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The Art World in Focus
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Masato Kobayashi

MASATO KOBAYASHI

Family of this Planet ShugoArts 10 September–16 October 2021 Tokyo
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Press Release

Kobayashi’s paintings are born from the harmony of real and imaginary light, expanding into the space and taking in what is in the space at the same time. The frame-like pieces of wood around his paintings are projected outward and bent, which give the viewers a hard time describing what they are looking at. It is unclear whether his paintings are complete. If a painting is a physical material that relies on the real world, notwithstanding the shape and size of its structural support, there should not be a clear border dividing the real world and the painting. By cropping its outer frame intuitively as Painting of this Planet, Kobayashi can simultaneously realise the two image worlds: the world in which he sees an image in his head and the world in which the viewers recreate their own through contemplation.

In this exhibition, Kobayashi will present a new series of works in which he uses his model as his motif, in addition to the portraits of a horse in which the horse holds a paintbrush in its mouth and looks like it is about to come out of the painting. In one artwork, the depicted model is holding onto the side of the canvas and about to emerge from the canvas (Model of this Planet (Woman with a Scar on Her Chest), 2021). In another one, the traces that the fleeing model made creates a new painting (Running-Man, 2021). By letting the physicality of the painted object decide the physicality of the painting, Kobayashi’s paintings generate a reverse power dynamic where the model, not the artist, controls his paintings. After all, his image is not depicted on canvas but located far beyond meaning and concept. As the spectators of the planet, we will have to revolutionise the field of our imagination and create new images of our own. Along with this exhibition, we will present Kobayashi’s installation, A pair of artworks, exhibited separately = LOVE, connecting the Roppongi Art Complex, thanks to the support from the Contemporary Art Foundation. Please enjoy the exhibition.

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About the Artist

Born in Tokyo (1957), Masato Kobayashi has explored his own definition of painting since the mid 1980s. Having deemed that ‘it is too late to paint after stretching canvas over a wooden frame,’ Kobayashi established his way of painting by stretching canvas and painting simultaneously. During his art-making process, he puts paint on his hand directly from paint tubes and applies colours by rubbing them on the canvas which he holds in place with the other hand. The artist creates image and space at the same time, and his methodology, which seems to integrate the soul of painting and body together, allows his artwork to stand out in the exhibition space and leave a strong impression on the viewers. Selected solo exhibitions: Artist and the Model, ShugoArts, Tokyo (2019); ART TODAY 2012, Sezon Museum of Modern Art, Nagano (2012); MASATO KOBAYASHI–The Paint of the Planet, Nariwa Museum, Okayama (2009); Starry Paint, stars of outer space by pure painting, Tensta Konsthall, Spanga, Sweden (2004); A Son of Painting Masato Kobayashi, S.M.A.K., Ghent (2001); KOBAYASHI Masato, The Miyagi Museum of Art (2000)

View Artist Profile Masato Kobayashi contemporary artist
About the Gallery

ShugoArts, established by Shugo Satani in 2000, values its locality, selects its artists regardless of their time and place, and sends out its activities from Tokyo.

Today, it has gotten much easier to appreciate various artworks of all times and places and their meanings, as well as spaces exhibiting artworks, need to be redefined, including contemporary art galleries. ShugoArts prioritises how to realise artists’ own growth as artists or make the most of their accomplishments. In order to nurture their abilities and possibilities, we provide our space for artists to express themselves freely and follow their artistic journeys side by side. Under any circumstances, our mission is to work and grow together with artists who ceaselessly create artworks, which shine a light on life and give it validation.

ShugoArts holds about 7 exhibitions a year and participates in national and international art fairs while simultaneously managing commissions for public spaces and organising performance and talk events. In addition, we also would like to be a part of art histories at large by creating invaluable archives and assisting art institutions.

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Address
Complex 665 2F, 6-5-24
Roppongi Minato-ku
Tokyo
Japan
Opening Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
12pm – 6pm
(1)
Tokyo Complex 665 2F, 6-5-24, Roppongi Minato-ku
ShugoArts contemporary art gallery in Tokyo Japan
ShugoArts
Complex 665 2F, 6-5-24, Roppongi Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
+81 364 472 234
http://www.shugoarts.com

Opening hours
Tuesday – Saturday
12pm – 6pm
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