ETSU EGAMI: Rainbow
April 24 - May 30, 2021
The language of rainbow strongly resonates with my present state of mind. Therefore, the rainbow has become my symbolic language of communication, which has gradually shown in my paintings.
—Etsu Egami
Whitestone Gallery Karuizawa is pleased to present “Rainbow”, an exhibition of new paintings by Japanese artist Etsu Egami. This exhibition marks Egami’s second large exhibition in Japan with her new 34 works produced in 2020, continuing from “Your Name?” at Whitestone Ginza New Gallery in 2019.
Born in Chiba in 1994, Etsu Egami is currently PhD student at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing and considered as an internationally renowned artist. She was selected as one of the young leading figures in the world by “Forbes 30 UNDER 30” (Forbes China) in 2020. Egami’s paintings are richly colored, uncomplicated compositions that contain a series of portraits that are simplified as translucent brushstrokes. They often hint at broader narratives — seemingly connecting with glitch, an interference of computer data — yet they are abstract and frequently contain a disparate and overlapping form. Though her art is highly refined and executed with considerable technical skill, Egami stresses the intuitive, deeply personal of how she works. The title that the artist names for her works are as well a game she plays with the audience, in which the unconventional black and brown were added to her palette, adding further layers of complexity and intrigue to the viewing experience.
We cordially invite you to this precious opportunity.
Karuizawa
1F / KARUIZAWA NEW ART MUSEUM, 1151-5 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano, 389-0102, Japan
Tel: +81 (0)267 46 8691
Fax: +81 (0)267 46 8692
Opening Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (September), 10:00 - 17:00 (October)
Closed: Sunday, Monday
ARTIST
Etsu Egami is a representative of the third generation of post-war Japanese contemporary artists, actively involved in Japan, China, United States, and Europe. She studied at The Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HFG) in Germany and at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher at Tsing Hua University. She is particularly interested in the process of miscommunication and rethinking society through language. Her projects have received international acclaim for its site-specific field research and documentation. Notable recent projects include Etsu Egami, Obsession and Question, New Horizons of Modern Painting (Woodone Museum of Art, Japan), Entrance Gallery Vol.1: Etsu Egami (Chiba City Museum of Art, Japan), and ‘Group show’ (Nassima Landau Foundation, Israel).
She was also highly recommended by museum curators, to participate in the VOCA Exhibition 2020 at The Ueno Royal Museum, which is considered a gateway to success for young artists. Egami is currently one of the most sought-after young contemporary artists. The VOCA exhibition has served as a platform for artists who have paved the way for the Japanese art world, such as Takashi Murakami for the first VOCA 1994 exhibition and Yoshitomo Nara in the 1997 exhibition.
Etsu Egami's works are collected by notable institutions such as He Art Museum, Hiroshima Woodone Museum of Art, Central Academy of Fine Art Museum, Yusaku Maezawa Collection, Nanjo Art Museum, Yuan Art Museum, Yi Lian Foundation, Damei Museum, Longlati Foundation, Tree Art Museum, Masamichi Toyama Collection, Korea Suncheon City Art Center, Hua Wei Collection, HOW MUSEUM, Masatoshi KUMAGAI collection, among others.