Tag Archives: japanese

Arts and Culture

Sebastian Masuda’s Colorful Rebellion (Seventh Nightmare) at Kianga Ellis Projects

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Sebastian Masuda's Colorful Rebellion Teddy Bear
Does This Teddy Bear Remind You Of Anything? (All Photos By Gail)

If you pay attention to global pop culture, then you’ve probably heard of the Japanese Harajuku style and Kawaii (Cuteness) culture, where the adorable has an undercurrent of rebellious edge. For just a short time you can immerse yourself in a kind of Cuteness Overload at Tokyo-based Artist and Fashion Designer Sebastian Masuda’s Colorful Rebellion (Seventh Nightmare) installation, through March 29th only at Kianga Ellis Projects. Geoffrey and I paid the space a visit yesterday and it was positively disorienting.

Continue reading Sebastian Masuda’s Colorful Rebellion (Seventh Nightmare) at Kianga Ellis Projects →

Arts and Culture

Must See Art: Yayoi Kusama’s I Who Have Arrived In Heaven At David Zwirner

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Yayoi Kusama Manhattan Suicide Addict
Yayoi Kusama in a Scene from “Manhattan Suicide Addict” (All Photos By Gail)

According to gallery employees at David Zwirner, last Friday night’s opening of Yayoi Kusama’s I Who Have Arrived in Heaven wasn’t just a Reception: it was an Event, complete with a personal appearance by the 84-year old living legend. And yes, she reportedly wore the bright red wig! We are very sorry to have missed that, but we did make it to the much less crowded Zwirner gallery on Saturday to take in I Who Have Arrived in Heaven‘s sculptures, paintings, video installation and one of two mirrored rooms that made our heads explode. The comprehensive exhibit fills all three of Zwirner’s adjoining spaces on West 19th Street, where a feast for the eyes awaits you in every room. It is high-fives all around for Zwirner on their inaugural Kusama exhibit, and if this marks your first exposure to this artist’s heavily psychedelic creations, you are in for a huge treat.
Continue reading Must See Art: Yayoi Kusama’s I Who Have Arrived In Heaven At David Zwirner →

Arts and Culture

Stefan Stux Gallery Presents Akikazu Iwamoto Secret Candy

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Akikazu Iwamoto Secret Candy
All Photos By Gail

If you are a fan of Surrealism, Japanese Manga, human bio-mechanical mutants or warped and unfathomably violent animated shows such as Super Jail, then you might want to stop over at the Stux Gallery on West 25th Street to check out Japanese artist Akikazu Iwamoto’s new collection of fantasy paintings entitled Secret Candy. Continue reading Stefan Stux Gallery Presents Akikazu Iwamoto Secret Candy →

Arts and Culture

A Visit to The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City

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Bronze Drop Noguchi Scupture
All Photos By Gail

When I find myself in what I would call a “Destination Neighborhood” – meaning an area that I wouldn’t normally be in except for a planned visit to a specific site or event – I always try to do as much as possible in that locale before returning home, because I probably won’t be going back any time soon. And so it happened that when Geoffrey and I made the haul out to Long Island City to visit the Socrates Sculpture Park, we also walked just a few blocks up Vernon Blvd to the Noguchi Museum, which Geoffrey had pegged as a stop well worth making. As usual, he was right on. Continue reading A Visit to The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City →

Arts and Culture

Yoshitomo Nara at Pace Gallery

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Yoshitomo Nara Girl Face

Pace Gallery is currently hosting its first exhibition of Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara, who joined the gallery in 2011. The exhibition features new paintings, bronze sculptures and works on paper.

Yoshitomo Nara Girl Head

I liked his paintings more than the large bronze sculptures. Here are a couple of my favorites from Friday night’s opening reception. Continue reading Yoshitomo Nara at Pace Gallery →