Varying about 60 types of incense sticks to suit each work and its appropriate temperature, thickness or marks, Ichikawa produces his works by gradually and minutely burning the surface of the paper and making burnouts there with those variety of incense sticks, without even making the draft. Although images in his work are often embodied while retracing the objects in his memory, those trees are minutely portrayed and presented in front of us as if they are photographed. In the world of the blackened, sometimes seductively browned burnouts, in spite of the material fragility and delicateness, Ichikawa's works rather boldly but gracefully invite the viewers to explore the never-experienced work of art.Driven by the pure desire of "going abroad", Ichikawa visited New York alone when he was only 13 years old, with small amount of money he earned by his construction work. Later while wandering about in America or Europe, he came across the expression of art through the encounter with the native people and culture of those wandered places. With such extraordinary experiences and memories of his youth, Ichikawa has, now been back to Japan, continuously produced his works of art employing the incense sticks tequnique. In this exhibition at FOIL GALLERY, which will be the artist's debut exhibition at the gallery space, about 15 pieces of the new body of work with motif of trees will be on display. As the title "murmur" suggests, whispering voices of the trees will echo through the gallery. Kosuke Ichikawa profile:
Visited New York alone when he was only 13 years old, wearing dreadlocks and in his particular Japanese steeplejack's outfit. Later while also visiting many places such as Los Angeles, London and Barcelona to name a few, he started producing painting works greatly stimulated by the encounter with many people and cultures. Having come through the practice with pens, now he's been actively producing works employing the unique technique of incense sticks. His works is to be shown at the exhibition VOCA 2010 at The Ueno Royal Museum, Tokyo. * The text provided by FOIL GALLERY.