NORIO IMAI
b. 1946, JapanSince the very start of his artistic career, Norio Imai has challenged the dogma of artistic convention. He creates bulbous reliefs that exist somewhere in-between object and painting. By placing material underneath the surface of his works, Imai creates monumental monochrome white paintings out of almost nothing. He considers white to be the ultimate colour, a non-colour that combines all colours in perfect harmony. Imai often repaints his work with an additional layer of paint to preserve the depth and purity of the whiteness. To him, white is a landscape made up of nothingness and emptiness.
Norio Imai’s works reflect on an increased shift toward the feminine, which is one of the most significant changes currently taking place in the world we live today. Imai’s work can be described as maternal, with fluid and matrixial qualities gaining importance over unambiguous masculinity. In this complete pureness, his works embrace all possibilities.
Text courtesy Axel Vervoordt Gallery.
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