Futagawa focuses on exploring the subtle relationship between humanity and nature, aiming to inspire viewers to explore harmonious coexistence with nature. The exhibition will additionally offer a multi-sensory engagement. We invite audiences to experience Alfie Lin’s nature aesthetics, smell the woody and earthy scent from Aesop, savor herbal teas from CNSalon, and listen to the natural sounds from Level Up Sound, a Taiwanese sound library platform. These senses will guide visitors into the tranquil and natural imagery of Futagawa’s work.


KAZUYUKI FUTAGAWA: Harmony in Nature
Taipei
2024.08.31 - 10.05
Whitestone Gallery is honored to present a solo exhibition “Harmony in Nature” by Japanese artist Kazuyuki FUTAGAWA. This exhibition follows his solo show at Whitestone Gallery, Beijing in 2023, showcasing two significant series, “Landscape” and “Memory”.


This exhibition features the “Landscape” and “Memory” series. Futagawa immerses himself in nature, capturing natural scenes from four distinct seasons in a tranquil atmosphere. In the “Landscape” series, his delicate brushstrokes depict the forest on Yakushima Island as UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Fuji, Oirase Gorge etc. These scenes resonate with spirituality, not merely replicating real landscapes but pursuing an aesthetic that honors the raw essence of nature.
In his recent “Memory” series, Futagawa has skillfully woven the silhouette of portraits into his landscape compositions. The figures represent wandering humanity, becoming ephemeral passersby in nature, surrounded by blooming flowers and plants, lost amid grasslands and jungles. The portrayal resembles the double exposure effect in film photography, where nature retains its innocence and tranquility before human interference, creating surreal scenes that blur the boundaries of reality and imagination.

The Beauty of Mineral Pigments Resonating on a Silent Landscape
INTERVIEW
ABOUT

KAZUYUKI FUTAGAWA
KAZUYUKI FUTAGAWA
Kazuyuki Futagawa was born in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. During his high school years, he developed a strong desire to pursue a career in painting. Therefore, upon completing high school, he enrolled at Kanazawa College of Art, where he studied nihonga (traditional Japanese painting). Following this, he continued his studies at the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he delved deeper into the art of nihonga, which emphasizes painting natural landscapes, animals, and plants. During his time at the university, he was exposed to the works of celebrated Japanese painting masters like Kawai Gyokudō (1873-1957), who greatly inspired him to explore the connection between humankind and the natural world in his artistic expression.
While inheriting Japanese painting techniques, he uses mineral pigments to paint carefully. He believes that only the use of mineral pigments can truly present the beauty of nature. In recent years, new elements have appeared in Futagawa's paintings. Silhouettes of human figures integrate into his landscape picture as if they are visitors to the natural scenery. They are surrounded by blossoms and greenery and got lost in the wildwood. It is the vastness of nature that reflects the frailty of human beings. Human beings should stay awed and humble towards nature. Futagawa published a series of works centered upon such motifs while he traveled to the prefectures within Japan to further research their history through historical site visits, and painted the scenery that captures his experience. His painting resembles a double exposure in film photography. It records this ever-changing scenery while depicting one’s inner peace. Futagawa's works present a sense of surrealism that exceeds traditional Japanese paintings. He has constructed a new form of realistic painting. The artist wishes one could appreciate the magnificent landscapes in Japan and the beauty of mineral pigment.
In his exploration of the relationship between humanity and nature, Futagawa highlights the reality that humans are, in essence, outsiders to the natural environment. A diverse ecosystem has emerged, providing natural resources for human survival as part of nature’s order. His work seeks to explore the potential for mutual coexistence, offering a profound reflection on how we interact with nature.


2024.08.31 – 10.05
TAIPEI
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Fax: +886 2 8751 1175
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