eitoeiko is pleased to announce a group exhibition 'Z3(Zainichi Korean 3rd Generation of Art).'  Zainichi means 'in Japan', especially it often uses to point out Koreans live in Japan. The exhibition features 5 artists of the third generation of Zainichi Korean led by Jong YuGyong(b.1991, Hyogo). What the artists those who belong to the special community called as 'foreigners' even they were born and brought up in Japan think about and indicate?

Jong YuGyong obscures outlines of the images of North Korean scenery spreading in the Internet. The artist attempts to replace the subjective image with the objective image by making illusory contours.

Lee JongOk(b.1991, Tokyo) draws portraits of one or two female figures based on compositions of Leonardo da Vinci and Rey Camoy(Japanese, 1928-1985). The red and blue colors indicate the fluctuation of feelings which can never see.

Chong Ri Ae(b.1991, Kanagawa) describes a small history of her grandfather who came over to Japan in old days. At the same time, she reports about modern cityscape in Tokyo. The artist declares each family has each small history. 

Lee ChongFa(b.1992, Kanagawa) connects triangles like the thread which got entangled. Black and white means the past and the future, and there still remains the alternative 3. Grey is the color made by mixing the past and the future.

The reason why the artist draws animals is that it prevents him from being complained from the object which he drew. Jo Chang Hwi(b.1992, Hokkaido) makes animal Sudoku with vivid colors.

Breaking away from an invisible frame called 'Zainichi', the thing they acquired by making art is freedom of expression. It is easy to find out their life of today in their own art. Looking at the subject carefully, they find out new things which they have not found out at first. The act is same as the method of traditional Japanese realistic paintings.

About 16 years passed after the book 'Nihon, Gendai, Bijutsu(Japan, Contemporary, Art)' by art critic Noi Sawaragi published in 1998. How Japan change, and how Japan not change? The reality of innate foreign artists reflects Japan today. Next door of Musashino Art University, there is Korea University. After graduation, the young artists still live and work in there. From their atelier where art supplies, instant foods, comics and iPods are scattered, here comes a fresh art with passion.

*image (left)
© Yugyong Jong
courtesy of the artist