Takeshi Shinohara

Takeshi Shinohara was born in Kyoto, Japan, and graduated from the Pratt Institute in New York in 1981 with a degree in drawing. Since then, he has refined his art while based in Belgium, Canada, Ghana, France, Scandinavia, and various other countries.
In the 00's, he has now relocated to Japan, where he also works as a lecturer at The University of Tokyo.

Shinohara’s work does not distinguish between three-dimensional and two-dimensional, abstract and figurative. He composes his works by using wind, water, fire, sound, and all other things as materials. These are not mere figurative compositions or abstract conceptual assertions, but rather expressions of realistic issues such as the constant cycles of nature and their relationship to human activity.

Shinohara recognized that he was approaching the end of his life. The confrontation of nature and artifice, life and death. There are boundaries and clear differences (distinctions) between the various elements. Although it would be sad for anyone to feel their life is about to expire, Shinohara is still alive, and he is creating works of art in the time that is only now available. Artist, gallerist, and viewer. The “Critical” series of recent years can be said to be about waiting for the moment when all reflections occur when each of us faces the work.

Recent productions are based on this very keyword, "Critical". These works are filled with blue (Shinohara blue). The viewer recognizes blue, but at first glance, it may appear to be just blue. However, it exists as a representation of time that endures.

Four years ago, in “The Critical Point of Visibility, 2020,” the artist reaffirmed the relationship between society and art, and also held an installation on the Kamo River in Kyoto. In the two exhibitions after this exhibition, “Moon of weather lone, 2021” and “Critical Angle of the Moon, 2022,” the works are expressed in a form based more on the artist’s inner emanation. The paintings and the music are both recognizable to the viewer. While both paintings and music exist as paintings and music because there are people who recognize them, these works categorize Shinohara himself, becoming one with the viewer and composing the work. It is an opportunity to rethink the way life is, the way works of art are, and their definitions.

Recent major solo exhibitions include “The Critical Point of Life” at GALLERY TOMO, Kyoto (2023) and “Critical Angle of the Moon” at Matsuzakaya Ueno Store, Tokyo (2023). Recent art fairs he has exhibited at include ACK (Kyoto International Conference Center, 2021, 2022), art KYOTO 2023 (Nijo Castle, 2023), and Art Fair Tokyo 2023 (Tokyo International Forum, 2023). His work is held in a number of prominent public and private collections, including the British Museum (U.K.), S.M.A.K., the Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art – Ghent（Belgium）, Aichi prefectural museum of art (Aichi), and The National Museum of Art, Osaka (Osaka).

GALLERY TOMO