Dear Shaded Viewers,
When I was in Tokyo last month my friend, ASVONF’s Tokyo correspondent, Martin Webb, took me to visit one of his favorite galleries Mizuma Art Gallery where I was delighted to discover the work of Ai Yamaguchi.
Mr. Mizuma, the owner of the gallery, is known for being a risk taker and for having a sharp and discriminating eye. He is fearless and his choice of artists can at times challange his audience.
?installation view at Mizuma Art Gallery
2007
(c) ai yamaguchi ? ninyu works
Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery
?yamayama
2007
acrylic on cotton, blanket and panel
131x200x9cm
(c) ai yamaguchi ? ninyu works
Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery
I particularly liked the way that Ai Yamaguchi merged the cute with the erotic. On a very personal level, every morning I was taking my breakfast while gazing out at Mount Fuji so to walk into the gallery and to be surrounded by Ai’s original interpretation of Mt. Fuji was a nice journey into the l7th century mixed with the 21st. Ai’s work blends the customs from the Edo-period with her own vision of eroticism. Her subjects often include the real life of girl prostitutes.
?tsuki wa, soshite, haru wa,
2007
acrylic on cotton, blanket and panel
48.3×56.3x6cm
(c) ai yamaguchi ? ninyu works
Courtesy Mizuma Art Gallery
Later,
Diane
