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Masato Kobayashi

MASATO KOBAYASHI

Paint of this Planet ShugoArts 20 February–27 March 2021 Online Only
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Press Release

Click here for ShugoArts Online Show Masato KOBAYASHI Paint of this Planet

ShugoArts is planning to focus on Paint of this Planet, an autobiographical novel by Masato Kobayashi, for our fourth online exhibition. In the first volume of the trilogy, released in 2018, Masato Kobayashi’s fateful encounter with ‘Sensei’ leads him into the world of painting in this inspirational story during which the artist matures through his painting. In the second volume, the author leaves his studio in Japan and embarks on a dazzling pictorial adventure. The year is 1996, and in this volume, considered a masterpiece, the author’s youth is illustrated as he travels around the international art scene and establishes his original painting style in which he is stretching canvas and painting simultaneously.

The reason why this series has been so well received is not only because of the story, but also because it shows with vivid realism how inseperable the life and works of the protagonist Masato Kobayashi are, and how the artist struggles with integrating his painting and the layers of his life events and thoughts, which engulf the background of his artistic practice.

The structure of the novel unfolds like a Bildungsroman, containing various scenes as they switch back and forth between different times and spaces with the protagonist’s memories and thoughts as the starting point; this very process reminds us of the process of making a painting in which an artist creates paintings with his daily sketches that have accumulated over time. As the story progresses, the framework of Kobayashi’s painting develops along with his growing consciousness in response to the changing reality, and his uplifting emotions turn into light and engender colour to his paintings. This structure is unique in that it forms both a novel and painting theory at the same time, and it can be said that Masato Kobayashi has developed a new way of expression.

This exhibition is an attempt to introduce a part of Kobayashi’s paintings in the words of this extraordinary novel, and also to show two large works created in the 1990’s online, which is when the novel is set.

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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)

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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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