GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku is pleased to present a solo exhibition of Yousuke Kobashi, titled “Kobashi’s Zu II.” The title comes from Japanese Zu (図) that means figure, chart, graphic and illustration. Kobashi would not like to give any biases or specific images before seeing the show through the title. Employing the Japanese word Zu, Kobashi suggests that he develop his Zu without feeling shackled by any themes.

The painting of self-portraits is central in his practice. Kobashi draws on Gauguin's “violet touch” and colors, as wells as certain decorative qualities of Matisse's style. This unrestricted sampling of techniques can be considered one of the methods to maintain freedom throughout the paintings. Those methods create Kobashi's very own unrealistic dream world.

Recently, the artist has kept distance from the self-portrait and explored his new motifs such as animals, nature and ships. In addition, Kobashi attempted to use new materials such as pastel and changed the representation method and materials as needed. Leaving his soft use of color, the paintings maintain his eccentric way of being him.

Yousuke Kobashi was born in Nara, Japan in 1980 and the gallery has been working with Kobashi since 2006. He was exhibited in Kobe Art Annual Project 2003 and had a solo exhibition in Art Tower Mito, Japan in 2006.

［作家プロフィール］
Yosuke Kobashi

1980 Born in Nara, Japan 2003 B. F. A., Osaka University of Arts

[Solo exhibitions]
2005 Under Public , Osaka
2006 Contemporary Art Center,Art Tower Mito , Ibagaki
Gallery Den , Osaka
GALLERY MoMo, Tokyo
2009 GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo
2011 NADiff Gallery, Tokyo
GALLERY MoMo Roppongi, Tokyo

[Group exhibitions]
2002 "EXISTENCE" SUMISO , Osaka
2004 “Kobe Art Annual 2004 "tonarinomado"” Kobe Art Village Center Kobe , Hyougo
2005 “Concrete 2005” Gallery KIKU , Osaka
2006 “VOCA 2006” Ueno Royal Museum , Tokyo
2007 "fore runners＆four eggs" GALLERY MoMo, Tokyo
2008 "Opening Exhibition" GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo
2009 "101TOKYO Contemporary Art Fair" Akihabara UDX Building, Tokyo
"Hop Step Jump" GALLERY MoMo Roppongi, Tokyo
"neoneo Part 1 [ Men ]" TAKAHASHI COLLECTION Hibiya, Tokyo
2010 "Visage vol.2" GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo
"Others as Myself " TAKAHASHI COLLECTION Hibiya, Tokyo
2011 "Regenerate" GALLERY MoMo Ryogoku, Tokyo
2012 "Figurative Paintings" Nanba Parks, Osaka