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Tohru MATSUSHITA: Kelen
Events
Written by In the document   
Published: May 07 2011

hoodies from the closet2, 120x90cm, Specially arranged Paint on aluminium panel, 2010
Courtesy of the artist and island MEDIUM
Copyright © Tohru Matsushita

Kelen…
to scale old painted surface/ to be too decorative

Tohru Matsushita applies chemical paints to the surface of car and canvas, and creates cracks by their combination for his works. The artist doesn’t use the traditional method, such as brushes, to paint, because, erasing embodiment as much as possible, his intention is to achieve the accidental effect caused by cracking.

In other words, what Matsushita aims to do is, as he erases his intention and idea, to paint the phenomenon that occurs as a result of his action. He follows the Japanese traditional ways that respect natural phenomenon just like the golden folding screen that changes colors by taking external light inside, and Ido-bowl that wears various expression influenced by the degree of the combination of liquid solution.

Matsushita, at the same time, is very familiar with street art, and he gets inspiration from contemporary street culture when he paints. That is because he seeks to embody the spirit of street art in his artworks, and set them as a norm to rely on to live in the contemporary urban space. Street art influences his expression also in terms of his painting method, that is, using spray cans as he draws graffiti and applying stencil technique.

Thus, Matsushita seeks to build the bridge between the past and the present through creating the story of contemporary urban space out of the traditional ideas of expression. However, his method is different from the mere imitation of the past or creation of the new expression in Japanese style. In this ever-changing urban space, he tries to connect the past with the present in terms of ideas of expression by his method and style, and set a guideline for living a life as we have been since ancient times.

Tohru Matsushita
Born in Kanagawa in 1984

Education:
2010 MFA from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Inter Media Art

Selected group exhibitions:
2009 "The exhibition in celebration with 50th anniversary of Takashima-ya, Yokohama" (Takashima-ya / Yokohama)
"WORM HOLE episode 11" (magical, ARTROOM / Tokyo)
2010 "island loves FRESH" (island / Kashiwa, Chiba)
"ART AWARD TOKYO2009" (Gyoko-dori Underground Gallery / Tokyo)
"Koshiki Art Project" (Koshiki island / Kagoshima)
"open/island" (3331 arts chiyoda 203 / Tokyo)

* The text provided by island MEDIUM.


Dates: May 21 - June 16, 2011
Venue: island MEDIUM
Opening reception: Saturday, May 21, 2011, 18:00 -

Last Updated on May 21 2011
 

Editor's Note by Mizuki TANAKA


hoodies from the closet2, 120x90cm, Specially arranged Paint on aluminium panel, 2010
>Copyright © Tohru Matsushita

The complex screen is interesting: the stroke of the brush which draws elaborately on black ground by thin lines, and the layers of paints which seem swinging like an electricity runs. Besides, there is a work which seems like footprints of a sneaker in a bright color. These show the artist's multipronged preference.


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