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Toru Ishii "Drifting"
Sokyo Atsumi
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Artists
Toru Ishii
Toru Ishii, is active domestically and internationally, where he transforms traditional Japanese techniques into contemporary art with his unique perspective. Following his joint exhibition at Shiki (Honmachi/Gion) in 2022 and at Shiki Annex (Kawaramachi Nijo) last year, this marks Ishii's first solo exhibition at Sokyo Atsumi.
After completing the postgraduate program in Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2014, Ishii was selected as a cultural affairs scholarship recipient for emerging artists by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2015, which led to a two-year residency at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Concurrently with this exhibition, Ishii is also participating in the Sapporo International Art Festival (SIAF) at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, one of the venues for the exhibition "1924-2024 FRAGILE［Handle with Care］" until February 25th.
While utilizing the traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving technique of Tsumugi Yuzen, inherited since the Edo period as a pattern dyeing method for kimono and obi, Ishii has maintained a certain distance from the realm of traditional crafts. Tsumugi Yuzen involves the application of rice paste called tsumugi-nori to create fine outlines around motifs to prevent dye bleeding, and then vividly depicts seasonal flora and scenery on silk with delicate lines and shading. In this exhibition, Ishii will showcase the "Tokyo Scenery" series, representing contemporary Tokyo landscapes through a process that intentionally incorporates modifications of photographs taken with a film camera and digital glitches alongside traditional dyeing techniques.
Under the theme of "Ukiyo-e of the Reiwa era," Ishii reflects iconic imagery of contemporary society, embodying the ongoing transformation of modern society. The title of the exhibition, "Drifting," encapsulates multiple meanings, including the notion of colors drifting onto the canvas through the staining technique, as well as the act of wandering through the city and capturing the drifting landscapes of Tokyo. Works like "Sumidagawa" and "Shibuyagawa," discovered during Ishii's study abroad in London in 2007 when he noticed changes in dye colors due to differences in water sources, depict the humidity of the rivers by actually dyeing with their water, generating contemporary river landscapes.
Through his experience abroad, Ishii has earnestly reexamined the traditional techniques woven throughout Japan, juxtaposing Tsumugi Yuzen dyeing techniques with staining techniques, analog, and digital elements to explore the construction of new staining paintings, the revitalization of traditional techniques, and the renewal of contemporary art. By delving into the exploration and discovery of painting and dyeing expressions in both Western and Eastern traditions, Ishii raises questions about the existence of traditional arts in contemporary society. We hope you take this opportunity to appreciate Ishii's vivid portrayal of contemporary society through the traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving technique of Tsumugi Yuzen.
After completing the postgraduate program in Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2014, Ishii was selected as a cultural affairs scholarship recipient for emerging artists by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2015, which led to a two-year residency at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Concurrently with this exhibition, Ishii is also participating in the Sapporo International Art Festival (SIAF) at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, one of the venues for the exhibition "1924-2024 FRAGILE［Handle with Care］" until February 25th.
While utilizing the traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving technique of Tsumugi Yuzen, inherited since the Edo period as a pattern dyeing method for kimono and obi, Ishii has maintained a certain distance from the realm of traditional crafts. Tsumugi Yuzen involves the application of rice paste called tsumugi-nori to create fine outlines around motifs to prevent dye bleeding, and then vividly depicts seasonal flora and scenery on silk with delicate lines and shading. In this exhibition, Ishii will showcase the "Tokyo Scenery" series, representing contemporary Tokyo landscapes through a process that intentionally incorporates modifications of photographs taken with a film camera and digital glitches alongside traditional dyeing techniques.
Under the theme of "Ukiyo-e of the Reiwa era," Ishii reflects iconic imagery of contemporary society, embodying the ongoing transformation of modern society. The title of the exhibition, "Drifting," encapsulates multiple meanings, including the notion of colors drifting onto the canvas through the staining technique, as well as the act of wandering through the city and capturing the drifting landscapes of Tokyo. Works like "Sumidagawa" and "Shibuyagawa," discovered during Ishii's study abroad in London in 2007 when he noticed changes in dye colors due to differences in water sources, depict the humidity of the rivers by actually dyeing with their water, generating contemporary river landscapes.
Through his experience abroad, Ishii has earnestly reexamined the traditional techniques woven throughout Japan, juxtaposing Tsumugi Yuzen dyeing techniques with staining techniques, analog, and digital elements to explore the construction of new staining paintings, the revitalization of traditional techniques, and the renewal of contemporary art. By delving into the exploration and discovery of painting and dyeing expressions in both Western and Eastern traditions, Ishii raises questions about the existence of traditional arts in contemporary society. We hope you take this opportunity to appreciate Ishii's vivid portrayal of contemporary society through the traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving technique of Tsumugi Yuzen.
Schedule | Feb 10 (Sat) 2024-Apr 11 (Thu) 2024 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Free | ||||
| Venue | Sokyo Atsumi https://sokyogallery.com/en/  | ||||
| Location | 304 Terrada Art Complex Ⅱ, 1-32-8 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002 | ||||
| Access | 7 minute walk from exit B at Tennozu Isle Station on the Rinkai line, 8 minute walk from the South exit of Tennozu Isle Station on the Tokyo Monorail line, 9 minute walk from the North exit of Shimbamba Station on the Keikyu Main line. | ||||
| Phone | 080-7591-5212 | ||||
| Related images | Click on the image to enlarge it  |
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