Katsuyoshi INOKUMA (b.1951) transitioned from concrete expression to abstract art in the 1990s. His IN BLUE series, which he began in 1993, showcases this evolution. Initially characterized by vibrant colors dripped onto canvases, his more recent works feature white, black, yellow and other colored rectangular shapes intertwining harmoniously with blue, creating a dynamic interplay of graduated and blended hues. Plentiful layers of blue are based on a pink underlayer and overlaid with multiple shades of blue by the artist. The artist then employs sandpaper to polish the surface, incorporating coffee powder into the oil paint to create varied textures. Ultimately, ultramarine blue dominates the surface, becoming emblematic of INOKUMA's distinctive blue (INOKUMA blue). The beauty and serenity of the paintings engage the audience, inviting them to experience the profoundness and tranquility of blue.
Melody Blue: Katsuyoshi INOKUMA, LEE Chae
Taipei
2024.07.13 – 08.24
Whitestone Gallery Taipei is pleased to announce a dual exhibition Melody Blue by Japanese artist Katsuyoshi INOKUMA and South Korean artist LEE Chae. Both artists use blue as the primary color tone on their canvases, creating an elegant and variable blue through delicate layering techniques. The exhibition features several of their latest works from recent years.
Katsuyoshi INOKUMA
At first there is nothing, then there is a profound nothingness, after that a blue profundity.
A New Frontier for Inokuma Blue | Katsuyoshi Inokuma "Transition" Interview
ABOUT
LEE CHAE
The exhibition features LEE's The Blue Flower and Afterimage series. Inspired by the perpetual cycle of life seen in the flourishing and fading of flowers and trees in nature, this serves as a profound example of the artist's pursuit of artistic inspiration. In The Blue Flower series, the artist captures the essence of bloom and fade through symbolic and abstract representations, reflecting the spirit of realization. The natural elements, such as petals, branches, trees, and forests, are realized on canvases of various sizes, each portraying a rhythmic pose. LEE's repetitive painting process layers time traces onto the original marks. The overlaid lines and shapes form layers that construct the Afterimage series, where the diffusion of shapes transforms into a profound visual memory. This approach mirrors an essential shape engraved deeply in his mind. LEE aims to express the connection between actions and thoughts through his art.
![The Blue Flower [Untitled]](http://www.whitestone-gallery.com/cdn/shop/files/lee-chae-1015108872_0222658a-a0b8-41d6-8473-795b38f94cda_1280x1280.jpg?v=1721972485)
![The Blue Flower [Night Rain]](http://www.whitestone-gallery.com/cdn/shop/files/lee-chae-1015108871_6264d403-1fbe-4f63-bb6c-a100ef538a1d_1280x1280.jpg?v=1721972480)
![The Blue Flower [Reminiscences]](http://www.whitestone-gallery.com/cdn/shop/files/lee-chae-1015108870_a000d429-dbea-45d2-b722-4b4e0a5b997f_1280x1280.jpg?v=1721972475)
![The Blue Flower [Untitled]](http://www.whitestone-gallery.com/cdn/shop/files/lee-chae-1015108872_0222658a-a0b8-41d6-8473-795b38f94cda_120x120.jpg?v=1721972485)
![The Blue Flower [Night Rain]](http://www.whitestone-gallery.com/cdn/shop/files/lee-chae-1015108871_6264d403-1fbe-4f63-bb6c-a100ef538a1d_120x120.jpg?v=1721972480)
![The Blue Flower [Reminiscences]](http://www.whitestone-gallery.com/cdn/shop/files/lee-chae-1015108870_a000d429-dbea-45d2-b722-4b4e0a5b997f_120x120.jpg?v=1721972475)
Into the Blue: Exploring Lee Chae's Artistic Universe
ABOUT
Chae Lee is a South Korean artist born in 1989. He graduated from Gacheon University's University for the Arts with majors in painting and Eastern painting. Subsequently, he received his master’s degree in fine art from Hongik University.
Chae Lee paints with oil on canvas, typically including his characteristic deep blue color in peaceful compositions. Though blue is often thought of as a 'cold' color, Lee interprets this shade as that of the calm of winter awaiting the promise of a new spring. Lee portrays natural elements of various sizes in his paintings, such as flower petals, branches, trees, and forests, in a rhythmical, abstract way.
Through Chae Lee's precision and the careful way he applies each line of paint, he projects ideas of 'meditation' and 'repetitive action.' Lee works in quiet concentration. With the utmost care, he wipes a thin layer of paint onto the canvas and, without leaving any unwanted marks, he slowly spreads the paint. By using this meditative process, Chae Lee spreads messages of 'peace' and 'healing' to the viewer in his artworks.
For INOKUMA, blue can evoke the most profound sense of spatial depth. Although blue appears quiet, it ultimately reveals a captivating and brilliant texture. LEE believes that blue, reminiscent of the vastness of the night sky, captures the true essence of the human heart and emotions. The delicate painting skills of both artists create profound and meaningful images on canvas, touching the audience's inner feelings, as if playing a deep, resonant blue melody.
2024.07.13 – 08.24
TAIPEI
Tel: +886 2 8751 1185
Fax: +886 2 8751 1175
Opening Hours: 11:00 - 19:00
Closed: Sunday, Monday, Public Holiday