Mao-neko, a cat that walks on two legs and exists with people appeared in Japanese Art & Culture scene in the late 80s.
Hiromart Gallery presents, Mao Yamaguchi's solo exhibition "Through the eyes of Mao-neko", with the latest woodblock prints made for the show - Mao etched his cynical point of view with humor.

Concept

From old times, Yaoyorozuno kami (Gods) lives in Japan, maybe they are hard to see nowadays but they exist. Tokyo and people are manipulated by mighty power of Technology and Economy so that Yaoyorozuno kami are getting hard to find. For 13 million people, 8 million gods live in Tokyo. Isn't it incredible?
I will cynically make the uniqueness of the city life through a view of Mao-neko. This cat, Mao-neko is not to be underestimated, it expresses those feelings we all used to have, such as warmth, honesty, loneliness and madness through his wicked eyes.

About the Artist

Born in Chiba, in 1958. Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University, painting, in 1984. In the same year of the graduation, his artwork accepted for the Japan and Culture Association's Japan Illustration Awards. His woodblock print titled "Udezumou (arm wrestling)” won a prize at the Choice's new face of the year in 1987, and his sculpture accepted for the Objet Tokyo in 1989. Overseas, he received the prizes at the ADC Awards, New York, the TDC Awards and the London International Advertising Awards in 1993, and received the honor at the Biennale of Asian Illustration in 2002. His debut solo-show was held in 1986. Since then his works, Woodblock prints, Sculptures, Acrylic and Oil paintings, exhibited numerous solo and group shows. He also has worked in various art forms such as TV commercials, book covers and picture books. He taught woodblock prints at Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design as a special lecture, and also started the block print class at NHK Culture Center since 2011.

Most recent, his large-sized exhibition with over 300 art works was held by Chiba citizen's gallery Inage in January 2012 and have well-received.