ABOUT
ART FOR THOUGHT is pleased to present the solo exhibition of Ko Kikuchi, “SPECTRUM.”
The artist has attempted to express landscapes as a “diverse” assemblage through realism and the use of abstract elements and materials as they are. This is the culmination of the SPECTRUM series, which has been his theme for approximately four years.
Hope you all enjoy his exhibition.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My paintings are “SPECTRUM” paintings, so to speak.
They are “observations” of the moment in the world where variations continue to intersect.
The underlying theme of my artworks is SPECTRUM. The dictionary says it means “continuum” or “range,” and in slang the word is used with the nuance of “miscellaneous” or “diverse”. I am not certain why I was attracted to this word. However, it may be related to the fact that my art style is constantly changing.
From the moment he first touched oil paint, I yearned for the mysterious and rich expression of oil painting, which seems to deepen the more layers of paint I applied.
For a while, I was influenced by modern Western painters such as Cézanne, Van Gogh, Corot, Renoir, Picasso, Klee, and the Japanese who embraced them. After going abroad, I became interested in modern art, oriental expressions, and mixed media, as well as abstract paintings, illustrations, and cartoon-like drawings. Recently, however, I have returned to a modern painting style.
Yes, my style is always varied. It is driven by a never-ending quest for expression. But in return, I am forced to take a middle-ground attitude toward everything.
You could say that I have a “habit” of perceiving seemingly incompatible things in a borderless manner. Japanese and Western, modern and contemporary, pure and impure, abstract and figurative, pop culture and high culture. It is both and neither.
Infinite exploration and borderlessness.
The work produced from this process is an “observation” of the moment in the world where variations continue to intersect.
Until now, I had no choice but to call it “SPECTRUM.
From now on, however, I would like to renew my efforts to create works with a new theme.
Therefore, I would like to put an end to the “SPECTRUM” series once and for all.
In this exhibition, a group of works with various approaches will be lined up as the compilation of this art series.
The representative motifs that I have painted so far are expressed using the techniques that I have used so far.
And I have included a few signs of new expression.
With this exhibition, I would like to present the culmination of “SPECTRUM,” which has been developed over a period of about four years.