MASAYUKI TSUBOTA

Masayuki Tsubota, born in 1976 in Osaka, Japan, received a Master’s degree in Sculpture from Osaka University of Arts. Dedicated to exploring the dialogue between humanity and nature, he employs natural materials from the earth, such as wood and stone and combines them with gesso plaster, natural mineral pigments, acrylics, and foil. His works present an abstract interplay of textures and colors, resulting in multidimensional visual effects that establish the connections between human physicality and space. He has held solo exhibitions in the United States (2019), Italy (2009), Australia (2006), South Korea (2024,2015,2013,2006) and throughout Japan. Tsubota has also participated in the Casablanca International Biennale in Morocco (2012) and the Busan Biennale in South Korea (2008). His works are included in the collection of prominent institutions, including the Essaouira Contemporary Art Center, Morocco, the Coreana Art Museum, South Korea, and the Hilton Hotel in Tokyo, Japan.

The exhibition Silent Vibration features four series of artworks by Masayuki Tsubota: “The layer of the self”, “The wall of the self”, “The core of the self” and” The loop of the self”. Each series showcases unique scraping and polishing techniques, along with distinctive colour, creating visual dynamism within a minimal form. His works purify shapes and colours to emphasise the existence of the work itself transforming the interaction between individual and space. This encourages viewers to re-experience déjà vu with seemingly familiar visual sensory forms, subtly altering their perception. Inspired by his admiration for ancient wooden temples, the artist primarily uses wood as his medium. Woods, regarded as a “living, breathing organism”, exhibit physical properties that change with the temperature and humidity of its surroundings. Through the selection of various wood types and the repetitive processes of sanding, cutting, and scraping, he infuses his own breath and pulse into the artwork. This approach of”carving with full concentration”, expresses his life rhythm through materiality. The shapes and shadows in his works create a sense of vibrating rhythm, achieving a balance between sharpness and softness in the carved textures. His works showcase the expressive tension of the materials and are visually dynamic. Tsubota believes that color can permeate our dreams and consciousness, influencing our perceptions and subconscious. By employing vibrant hues, he seeks to awaken viewers’ sensitivity to color, prompting a reevaluation of often-overlooked subtle emotions and memories. He frequently utilises natural mineral pigments and acrylics, carefully mixing until achieving the spiritual colours his envisions, often creating hues similar to “vermilion red.” Tsubota’s art creates a field for visual perception, providing sensory resonance and uncovering memories hidden within the subconscious. This exhibition invites audiences to engage in the dynamic interaction of shapes and colours from diverse perspectives within the space of Whitestone Gallery, Taipei.